Mosquito bites

Mosquito bites are the itchy bumps that appear after mosquitoes pierce the skin to feed on your blood. The bump usually clears up on its own in a few days. Occasionally a mosquito bite causes a large area of swelling, soreness and redness. This type of reaction, most common in children, is sometimes referred to as skeeter syndrome.

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

Bites from mosquitoes often cause small red lumps on the skin. Other symptoms include:

Dark spots that resemble bruising
Swelling or redness
Small blisters instead of hard bumps
In children and people with immune system disorders, mosquito bites sometimes trigger:

 * A low-grade fever
 * Hives
 * Swollen lymph nodes

Causes[edit | edit source]

Mosquito bites are caused by female mosquitoes feeding on your blood. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood. Female mosquitoes have a mouthpart made to pierce skin and siphon off blood. Molecules from the mosquito's saliva are injected into the host, causing a mild immune response.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

Prevention of mosquito bites is important in avoiding mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. Measures to prevent mosquito bites include the use of mosquito bed nets (preferably insecticide-treated nets), insect repellent on exposed skin, covering much of the body with clothing, and draining standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Most mosquito bites stop itching and go away on their own in a few days. Over-the-counter creams and ointments can help with the itching and swelling. If a mosquito bite causes a large skin reaction, or if a child has a fever or other signs of illness, a healthcare provider should be contacted.

See also[edit | edit source]

Mosquito bites Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.