Mosquito bites are both a nuisance and a danger, especially within households. Mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous insects all throughout history. These little insects are dangerous because they are the harbinger of contagious and deadly diseases. They are responsible for millions of deaths worldwide every year.

However, in most industrialized countries today, mosquitoes are more of a nuisance and a cause for sleepless nights as well as the occasional trip to the hospital.

Why Mosquitoes “Bite”

Technically, mosquitoes do not really “bite.” They suck blood from their prey using their proboscis. Mosquitoes do not primarily feed on blood from humans and animals – they also feed on nectar. They need blood for additional nutrients, especially for reproduction.

Mosquitoes are usually active at dawn and dusk. During these times, they “hunt” for their victims and feed. When a mosquito finds a target, it carefully lands on the skin of the human or animal. It initially applies its saliva to act as a painkiller, to mask its bloodsucking activity.

After the application of the painkiller, the mosquito will put out its proboscis, a hollow needle-like structure in its head, and stick it into the skin of the victim to suck blood. As it sucks blood, its abdomen will noticeably bulge as it fills with blood. It will continue to do so until it has its fill.

If you are bitten by a mosquito, you will only feel the itch and pain a few minutes after the bite took place. Pain and itch is then followed by swelling.

Though mosquitoes do not need blood to survive, they need it to provide additional nutrients like protein and iron for them to reproduce.

The Danger of Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes have been branded as the most dangerous and deadliest insect on the face of the planet because of the direct harm these creatures inflict. These insects act as carriers for a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria and viruses, without getting infected themselves.

They become carriers of diseases as they suck blood from people and animals. For example, if a person is suffering from a certain disease, it sucks the blood along with the bacteria or virus causing that disease. It now becomes a vessel of the disease. When it goes to another victim, it transfers the disease to that person. Among the many diseases they transmit are malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, and yellow fever.

Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites

A mosquito bite does not always give you a disease, but it can become very uncomfortable and painful if you happen to scratch it a lot. The first thing you have to do when you are bitten by a mosquito is to get out of that place to prevent more bites from other mosquitoes.

If you only have a few bites, and you can bear the itch and pain, then you can just leave it alone. If you have received several bites or you are allergic to mosquito bites, then you must immediately treat them.

Mosquito bites may swell up into big welts, especially when scratched. To ease the discomfort, there are a wide variety of products and homemade solutions you can use. You can simply use antihistamine creams and apply them directly on the affected areas. If the bites bother you a lot, you can take painkillers like paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. A cold shower greatly helps relieve the itch, too.

One of the most effective home remedies you can use is banana peel. This can help you immediately ease the pain and itch. Get the peelings of a banana and rub the inside part to the affected area for a few seconds up to a minute. Swelling and itching almost always immediately disappears. Put the banana in the fridge or make a banana milkshake so that the fruit will not go to waste.

If you have aloe vera in your garden, you can also use that as a natural remedy for your insect bites. Peel it open and apply directly on the areas. It instantly provides relief from itch and pain. This remedy is ideal if your insect bites start to cause a burning sensation, especially when you have scratched the insect bite and welts have already formed.

A mosquito bite usually itches for only a few minutes, so it helps if you do not scratch it. The more you scratch, the more pain and itch you feel. A quick remedy is to allow cool water to run over it or simply ignore it.

However, if you are allergic to mosquito bites and you feel symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, or a feverish feeling, you should immediately seek medical help.

Preventing Mosquito Bites

The best way to get rid of mosquito bites is to get rid or at least prevent the insect responsible for it. Knowing the dangers that these insects bring should be enough reason to actively avoid mosquitoes and mosquito bites.

In your home, the best way to prevent or control mosquitoes is to destroy their breeding grounds around your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still or stagnant water so you must check areas in and around your home. Flower vases, buckets, pots, pet dishes, and roof gutters are just some of the places where mosquitoes are most likely to lay their eggs. Discard the water or cover the item if it needs to have water in it. If you have a pool, make sure it is cleaned regularly and that chlorine levels are at the recommended concentration.

Keeping mosquitoes out of your home will also be a task, especially when you live in a place that has a lot of them. Install screens on windows and doors if you don’t have air conditioning. This will keep the cool air coming in but the mosquitoes out.

If you have an infant in your home, keep him or her safe from mosquito bites by installing a mosquito net on the crib. Since infants do not have a well-developed immune system yet, they are more prone to the diseases that mosquitoes carry.

Chemicals like insecticides, larvicides, and mosquito repellents should also be used. Insecticides are very useful, as are larvicides, which are chemicals used to make water unsuitable for mosquitoes to use as a breeding ground. Spray some directly on puddles of stagnant or still water to be sure.

If you are going outdoors, especially in places where there are a lot of mosquitoes, make sure you use mosquito repellent lotions to avoid insect bites. Apply the repellent on every exposed part of your body. Make sure you also wear thick clothing. Extra layers of clothes will help. Cotton shirts are often not enough, because a mosquito’s proboscis can still pass through it.

It is not that difficult to deal with mosquitoes and their bites. Raising awareness of the dangers of mosquitoes and their bites is usually enough to prevent and control these insects.