We often don't realize when we've been bitten by a mosquito. Usually, we only find out that we were bitten by a mosquito after the bite feels itchy and a reddish bump appears. So, what exactly causes mosquito bites to itch? Check out the following review.

Why Mosquito Bites Itch

Living in a tropical climate like Indonesia, mosquitoes breed quickly. Therefore, it's no wonder that you often wake up with mosquito bites all over your body, especially if your room has many places that mosquitoes love.

The effects of a mosquito bite can vary from person to person.When mosquitoes bite, they suck blood while leaving mosquito saliva on the skin. Mosquito saliva contains anticoagulants and proteins. To the body, these proteins are foreign substances that can trigger an immune system response.

To fight the foreign substance, the immune system releases histamine, a compound that can help white blood cells deal with inflammation in the bitten area. This histamine compound is what causes itching, inflammation and swelling.

Sometimes my mosquito bites do not leave any marks on the skin. This could be due to the immune system not yet having a response to the foreign substance.

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How to Deal with Mosquito Bites

Mosquito bites are usually harmless and do not require special treatment. When itching from a mosquito bite occurs, it is best not to scratch the bite, as this may cause blisters. To relieve mosquito bites, you can do the following:

• Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone ointment to soothe the protein reaction from the mosquito's saliva.
• Apply rubbing alcohol to the bite marks. Alcohol can reduce swelling and the histamine response on the skin. You can use an alcohol swab or a cotton swab rubbed with alcohol.
• Compress with cold water. Compressing the mosquito bite with ice or cold water can relieve the bumps and itching, although it may not remove the proteins that trigger the itching.
• Take antihistamines as prescribed by your doctor

Although mosquito bites are harmless, you need to see a doctor immediately if, after being bitten by a mosquito, you experience more severe symptoms such as allergic reactions, fever, headache, or body pain.

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Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bite 

Mosquitoes love to live in places of stagnant water. Some places that can harbor mosquitoes include bathroom tubs, toilets, flower pots, and used items in the house or warehouse. Dirty clothes hung behind doors can also harbor mosquitoes. For this reason, it is best to keep the area clean and stop hanging clothes behind the door.

Other ways to prevent mosquito bites are:

• Wear long-sleeved clothing
• Sleep with a mosquito net over the bed
• Apply a skin-safe anti-insect lotion

If you are traveling to an area with active mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, malaria or Zika virus, you should follow the safety guidelines for traveling to these areas.

Mosquito bites are generally harmless, but bites from virus-carrying mosquitoes can cause you to contract diseases. If you have questions about mosquito bites and their dangers, you should consult a doctor or use the consultation feature on the Ai Care application.

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