There are few things in the world that are more annoying than a persistently buzzing mosquito, always just out of reach until it swoops in and bites you when you're not looking. When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva containing an anticoagulant that prevents your blood from clotting. The itchy red swelling that results is caused by an allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva. While for many of us this is just an annoyance, mosquitoes in some parts of the world carry malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis, and other serious diseases. Even in safer parts of the world, many people have stronger allergic reactions, producing itchy welts. Often, mosquitoes hone in on certain individuals, leaving others entirely alone.
In any event, there are many ways to avoid bites in the first place. Mosquitoes routinely swarm at dusk; sometimes, they appear in the thousands just as the sun is going down, then disappear after 30 minutes. Especially if you are allergic or seem to attract mosquitoes, stay in a screened porch. Or, apply an insect repellent; most repellents can be used quite safely. DEET, for instance, is the active ingredient in many repellents; it keeps away an array of biting insects including mosquitoes, gnats, midges, and sand flies. Another common repellent is citronella oil, obtained by the steam distillation of freshly cut grasses. You can rub this onto your exposed skin as a lotion, or apply as a spray.
There are various devices that keep mosquitoes at bay. Insect repellent wristbands can be worn around the wrists or ankles; these release a fine repellent vapor such as DEET, forming a protective barrier around your body. Because no liquid chemicals are directly absorbed by your skin, there is little danger of skin irritation or damage to clothing. Likewise, plug-in mosquito killers gradually release insecticide vapors into the air, keeping bugs away. Because plug-ins work so gradually, they are appropriate for use indoors and can be left on overnight in your bedroom. Mosquito coils, on the other hand, are more obtrusive; these coils are set up on small metal stands or glass bottles and, when lit, release smoke that repels mosquitoes. Each coil burns for about 8 hours; coils are appropriate for use outdoors. If you want to light one inside, be sure the room has adequate ventilation.
If you've already been bitten and have an itchy welt, there are various household products that can help relieve your discomfort. Many people use salt: moisten the area around the bite and rub in some table salt. The itchiness should disappear immediately. You can also rub apple cider vinegar into a bite. Strangely, toothpaste is another common product that quickly alleviates your itching; for some reason, peppermint-flavored toothpaste works the best.
You can make a paste with baking soda and apply that to your bite, leaving it on for about 15 minutes. Mix baking soda with water until you have a paste-like substance, and apply directly to your bite. Or, mix baking soda with witch-hazel. Two other products that you can purchase that will relieve your itching are calamine lotion (commonly used for poison ivy) and aloe gel.
Some people find that a mixture of 1 part water, 1 part garlic salt, and 1 part seasoning salt is effective in controlling itchiness. This potent mixture will burn for about 5 seconds, and then your bite will feel much better. Other people find that simply rubbing their own saliva into the bite will relieve the discomfort.
If you have a persistent itch that won't stop and you can't prevent yourself from constantly scratching, you are at risk of infection. If the itching is really unbearable, cut a lemon in half and "scratch" the bite with the soft, pulpy side of the lemon; this is better than using your fingernails, which will tear at the bite and eventually cause infection.
There is little we can do to avoid coming into contact with mosquitoes, but there are many products to help prevent bites, and dozens of remedies that will bring relief if we've already been bitten.
No comments:
Post a Comment