Detection and treatment of mosquito bites

A mosquito bite can trigger various different reactions. Find out how best to treat it, how to tell the difference between a mosquito bite and a tick bite – and what to do if it becomes inflamed.

Why are mosquito bites itchy? When a mosquito bites us, it passes on saliva. This foreign matter, a local anaesthetic and anticoagulant secretion, triggers the release of histamine. Generally speaking, a red circle appears first, then the mosquito bite causes swelling – and the incessantly itchy mosquito bite forms. The site of the bite turns red, swells up, starts to itch and feels warm to the touch. Mosquito bites are harmless and generally disappear by themselves after a few days, but there are exceptions. Caution is advised if a red circle appears around the mosquito bite.

An itchy mosquito bite might be annoying, but it’s usually harmless. The primary way to relieve itchiness is cooling, ideally with an ice cube or a cold compress. There are also many effective aids such as ointments, heat sticks or home remedies for treating mosquito bites.

The best home remedies for treating mosquito bites

Onions

The juice of an onion has an antiallergic and antibacterial effect. So if you’re bitten by a mosquito, you can halve the onion and dab the bite lightly with it.

Lemons

Lemons have a similar effect to that of onions. They contain essential oils that relive itchiness.

Essential oils

Lavender oil has a calming effect and dripping some on the mosquito bite can help to relieve itchiness. If the mosquito bite is slightly inflamed, tea tree oil is recommended as this prevents inflammation. However, tea tree oil should not be applied to the skin undiluted: mix four drops of tea tree oil into 10 ml of almond or olive oil and then dab on.

Ginger

Hold a few slices of ginger on the bite and wait for the itchiness to subside.

Aloe vera

The nectar of the aloe vera plant affects mosquito bites in a number of ways: it cools, helps to reduce swelling, relieves itching and moisturises. You can buy aloe vera gel as a finished product or take it from the plant directly. To do so, cut off a leaf, leave it to drain briefly and put it in the fridge for half an hour in cling film or foil. Then cut lengthways and apply the plant gel to the bite.

Diluted vinegar

Vinegar compresses may not smell good but they’re efficient: they disinfect, cool and relieve itching.

What else can you do about mosquito bites?

Heat stick

Special heat sticks have become more and more common on the market over the past few years. The principle is simple: the stick is heated and held on the mosquito bite for a few seconds. As the proteins in the mosquito’s saliva degrade from a temperature of around 45°, the production of histamine causing the itchiness is automatically stopped.

Creams and gels

The antihistamines contained in creams or gels for mosquito bites can stem the spread of histamine. But purely cooling creams or gels are also available that are ideal for use on sensitive baby skin. A classic drawing salve is also effective in treating mosquito bites because it extracts germs from the bite and relieves the itchiness.

Why do mosquito bites become inflamed?

Care should be taken if a mosquito bite becomes inflamed. This can happen, for instance, if the mosquito has been feeding on dog excrement or cow dung before stinging someone. The bite can result in faecal bacteria such as streptococci or coliform bacteria ending up in the wound. Scratching a mosquito bite also allows dirt particles and bacteria to get in.

What does an inflamed mosquito bite look like?

You can tell a mosquito bite is severely inflamed if, in addition to the classic redness, there is swelling, fever or pus. You should monitor inflamed mosquito bites closely because a bacterial infection can have serious health consequences: if foreign bacteria enter the human bloodstream, a painful swelling, lymphoedema, can form. In such cases, the fluid in the tissue is longer being effectively removed. The lymphoedema normally subsides after a few days. In very rare cases, an inflamed mosquito bite can cause blood poisoning (sepsis).

Inflamed mosquito bite: when do I need to see a doctor?

When are mosquito bites dangerous? If the mosquito bite swelling does not go down and inflammatory symptoms like fever, shivering or fatigue start, you should consult a doctor. Ointments containing cortisone generally help or – in the case of a bacterial inflammation – antibiotics.

Naturally, prevention is better than cure. Protect yourself with an anti-mosquito spray and wear light-coloured clothing because dark clothing is more likely to attract mosquitoes. If you are still bitten, you can use one of the many home remedies for mosquito bites. You’re in luck if your blood type is A. Researchers have found that mosquitoes do not like this blood type at all – they prefer to bite people with type B blood, and most of all those with type 0 blood.