When concerned about any difficulties, whether it is a matter of how to get rid of mosquito bites fast, in general, or a more particular focus on the prospects of mosquito bite allergy problems, the concern begins with the saliva. It is female mosquitoes, needing our blood to feed their eggs, which inject their saliva into our skin to make the blood extraction process quicker, easier and more subtle.
The chemical qualities of the saliva, that provide these benefits to the mosquito, cause reactions on the part of human blood donors. For most people this is the usual slight swelling and reddish irritation which is well known. There are a variety of measures you can take to address such reactions. Mosquito bites are never fun, but their irritation is usually only brief and timely measures reduce both duration and intensity. The mosquito bite is not a significant health concern for most people, most of the time.
This fact though should not lead us to be lackadaisical about the real, if rare, dangers such bites may pose. It is important to be vigilant over non-typical situations of mosquito bite allergy reactions. Indications of a more serious situation will include blistering rashes, bruises, or excessive swelling. The reference to swelling should not be confused with the modest swelling that frequently occasions mosquito bites, but rather refers to situations in which the entire appendage distinctively swells in size.
Skeeter Syndrome is the name given to these kinds of mosquito bite allergy reactions. When the polypeptides in the mosquito saliva has a negative reaction with the hosts immune system, this syndrome is the result. This non-contagious illness most commonly occurs among those who have a history of allergic reactions. There is some variation in the beginning of symptom manifestation from an immediate appearance to as many as several days. Vigilance requires being attentive to any sign of the following symptoms:
1. Red lumps that appear on the bite area; 2. Other bumps and swelling observed at other areas of the body; 3. Hives; 4. Unexplained bruises and blisters; 5. Swelling beneath the surface of the skin or mucous membranes; 6. Infection of bites; 7. Particularly of concern are asthmatic reactions; 8. In rare cases there is danger of anaphylaxis.
While it's of course possible for anyone to experience allergic reactions, some people are at increased risk for such intense mosquito bite allergy reactions. Special awareness must be had when dealing with the following groups of people:
1. Outdoorsy people are a concern simply for their high degree of exposure. Think particularly of those who engage in work or sports out of doors, particularly in areas with high propensity for mosquitoes; 2. Another group to be especially attentive of are those without a history of exposure at all, and whom therefore may not have adequate natural immunity to mosquito saliva. Young children can be a concern in this regard, as well; 3. The other major category of people likely at risk is those with immuno-deficiency illnesses such as AIDS, leukemia and lymphoma.
The first and foremost advice, when dealing with any extreme allergic reactions, is to immediately consult a physician. There are though preparations that can be of value. Especially when someone in your family or party has a history of allergic reaction, it is recommended to keep on hand anti-allergy medicines. In case asthmatic reactions result, these can often be alleviated with oral anti-histamines. Avoid delay in administering such medication for the optimum relief of symptoms and suffering. However, we repeat, that symptoms such as blisters, difficulty in breathing, short and panting breaths, require immediate medical attention.
And, in the unlikely, but not impossible, case of someone developing anaphylaxis, this must be treated exactly as it would in the case of a bee sting, with immediate hospitalization. While it is standard fare to joke about the harmlessness of mosquito bites, this is one rare situation in which such a bite can indeed be life threatening.
It is important to be aware of the worst case scenarios, but there's no benefit in stressing over it. The overwhelming majority of the time mosquito bites are innocuous annoyances easily treated with a variety of home remedies. We hope that those home remedies will be more than enough for you to enjoy your outdoors activities.
The chemical qualities of the saliva, that provide these benefits to the mosquito, cause reactions on the part of human blood donors. For most people this is the usual slight swelling and reddish irritation which is well known. There are a variety of measures you can take to address such reactions. Mosquito bites are never fun, but their irritation is usually only brief and timely measures reduce both duration and intensity. The mosquito bite is not a significant health concern for most people, most of the time.
This fact though should not lead us to be lackadaisical about the real, if rare, dangers such bites may pose. It is important to be vigilant over non-typical situations of mosquito bite allergy reactions. Indications of a more serious situation will include blistering rashes, bruises, or excessive swelling. The reference to swelling should not be confused with the modest swelling that frequently occasions mosquito bites, but rather refers to situations in which the entire appendage distinctively swells in size.
Skeeter Syndrome is the name given to these kinds of mosquito bite allergy reactions. When the polypeptides in the mosquito saliva has a negative reaction with the hosts immune system, this syndrome is the result. This non-contagious illness most commonly occurs among those who have a history of allergic reactions. There is some variation in the beginning of symptom manifestation from an immediate appearance to as many as several days. Vigilance requires being attentive to any sign of the following symptoms:
1. Red lumps that appear on the bite area; 2. Other bumps and swelling observed at other areas of the body; 3. Hives; 4. Unexplained bruises and blisters; 5. Swelling beneath the surface of the skin or mucous membranes; 6. Infection of bites; 7. Particularly of concern are asthmatic reactions; 8. In rare cases there is danger of anaphylaxis.
While it's of course possible for anyone to experience allergic reactions, some people are at increased risk for such intense mosquito bite allergy reactions. Special awareness must be had when dealing with the following groups of people:
1. Outdoorsy people are a concern simply for their high degree of exposure. Think particularly of those who engage in work or sports out of doors, particularly in areas with high propensity for mosquitoes; 2. Another group to be especially attentive of are those without a history of exposure at all, and whom therefore may not have adequate natural immunity to mosquito saliva. Young children can be a concern in this regard, as well; 3. The other major category of people likely at risk is those with immuno-deficiency illnesses such as AIDS, leukemia and lymphoma.
The first and foremost advice, when dealing with any extreme allergic reactions, is to immediately consult a physician. There are though preparations that can be of value. Especially when someone in your family or party has a history of allergic reaction, it is recommended to keep on hand anti-allergy medicines. In case asthmatic reactions result, these can often be alleviated with oral anti-histamines. Avoid delay in administering such medication for the optimum relief of symptoms and suffering. However, we repeat, that symptoms such as blisters, difficulty in breathing, short and panting breaths, require immediate medical attention.
And, in the unlikely, but not impossible, case of someone developing anaphylaxis, this must be treated exactly as it would in the case of a bee sting, with immediate hospitalization. While it is standard fare to joke about the harmlessness of mosquito bites, this is one rare situation in which such a bite can indeed be life threatening.
It is important to be aware of the worst case scenarios, but there's no benefit in stressing over it. The overwhelming majority of the time mosquito bites are innocuous annoyances easily treated with a variety of home remedies. We hope that those home remedies will be more than enough for you to enjoy your outdoors activities.
About the Author:
Tosh Caliberni writes on health related issues at a number of blogs, such as How to Get Rid of the Flu Fast.
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