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Mosquito bites natural remedies
What do you put on mosquito bites?
( 3 Apr 2008)
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Mosquito bites can cause a number of complications, because a wide variety of illnesses are spread through mosquitoes, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. The female of the species must feed on blood before producing eggs. This is done by piercing the skin and inserting saliva that does not allow the clotting of blood, enabling the mosquito to suck out blood without difficulty.
Most often, these bites cause allergic reactions, such as itching and swelling of the bitten area. In the case of people who are overly sensitive to mosquito bites, large welts can form around the affected area and in rare cases, the complete limb swells up due to the bite. People, who work outdoors, in gardens and areas where there is stagnant water, are more prone to being bitten by mosquitoes, as mosquitoes breed in such areas. Trekkers and people on camping expeditions should be especially careful to complete a moderate amount of research on the ecology of the area they are visiting so that they are aware of the varieties of mosquitoes in the respective areas.
The best way to take care of mosquito bites is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes’ altogether. This requires a person to be careful with the kind of clothing that is worn while venturing into areas of greenery and swamp. Long sleeved shirts and full length trousers keep them away from the body and make it difficult for them to penetrate the skin. The oil of the citronella plant is a well known insect repellent. It is advisable to rub a little of this oil over the exposed parts of the body, so that mosquitoes and other insects are kept away. Peppermint is another well known mosquito repellent, and adding a few drops of peppermint oil to your body lotion will protect you from unwanted mosquito bites. Similarly, tea tree oil, applied with a swab gives the same desired effect.
The irritation of the bite can be removed through the use of a wide variety of well recommended remedies. To begin with, first wash the bite with a little soap water. The juice of an onion, applied to the area will stop it from itching almost immediately. A paste of baking soda and water will serve the purpose of a drying agent to draw out the fluid injected into the skin, relieving you of the irritable sensation that accompanies mosquito bites. An ice pack, applied to the affected area is recommended for reducing the inflammation caused by mosquito bits.
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answered by G M on 9 Apr 2010, 1:39:40
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Mosquito bites natural remedies Mosquito bites have a tendency to swell up, sting and last for about a day or two. More of an annoyance than any real pain or actual discomfort, they can be relieved with simple measures that can be employed at home. The first thing to relieve the itching is to apply ice on them. This will bring down the swelling as well as soothe the itching momentarily. You should disinfect the bite properly first by washing it with soap and water. After this, applying a mix of baking powder and water to it will clean it further. In order to get relief from itching, you can also apply calamine lotion, which will have a cooling and soothing effect on the bite. Alternately, you can also apply a mix of plain common salt and water. This will also help tremendously in providing relief from the itching.
It is important for you to know that if the bite swells up uncommonly or gives you trouble for more than a week, it could be problematic in terms of infection, and sometimes even malaria. If this should happen, please make it a point to get it checked by a doctor. In order to prevent mosquitoes from biting, you can apply a thin layer of citronella oil to your body. This will repel mosquitoes quite effectively.
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answered by M W on 3 Apr 2008, 8:03:31
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