Why Are Mosquito Bites Always Round?

Whenever you are bitten by a mosquito, your body has a reaction. You will feel itchiness and possibly a fever. It can also be painful. Luckily, most of these reactions are harmless and usually disappear on their own within a few days.

A person’s immune system sends chemical histamine to the bite site. The histamine causes the swelling and itching. If you are allergic to mosquitoes, you may experience a more severe reaction.

The pain from a mosquito bite usually subsides within a week. However, if the itching persists, you should seek medical advice. A healthcare provider can prescribe antihistamines, which can be taken as a pill or applied to the bite. You can also apply hydrocortisone cream directly to the mosquito bite.

In addition to itching, mosquitoes carry several diseases. These include malaria, Zika and West Nile virus. It is important to keep these diseases away from you. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that over 400,000 people die from malaria every year.

Symptoms of these infections can take as long as four weeks to develop, but they can occur as early as 10 days after a mosquito bite. The symptoms can also include muscle pain, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

The best way to prevent mosquito-transmitted diseases is to avoid them in the first place. You can do this by avoiding areas with standing water and using screens on windows. You can also use insect repellents with at least 10 percent DEET on your clothes.