From the article: Mosquito Allergy
I see some patients in my clinic that swear that mosquitos just have a taste for them. They will be nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes, while their family members and friends won't be touched. These people have some pretty interesting ways of preventing mosquito bites and dealing with the bites when they occur. If you have a mosquito allergy, do you have a trick for avoiding bites or dealing with reactions? Share it here, and learn some useful tips on dealing with mosquito allergy from others. Share Your Experiences
14 month old severe reaction
- My son has the same thing but with out any fever. Hard red blisters the size of ping pong balls. I was puzzled at first to what could have caused them then I remembered him playing in the grass at dusk one evening. They don't seem to bother him much he scratches them a little at first but the just look so bad and get dark and scar after a week or two. We live in the country now but might just move back to the city were we never got bit.
- —Guest Jahson's Mommy
steroid cream
- My 4 year old has been prescribed a steroid cream for her bites. We also thought the first few were spider bites! Benydryl was no help for her at all, BTW
- —Guest ali Smith
pat
- hi, I was where there were mossies around me for about 30mins. I left not aware of bites at all. After about half an hour or less, my throat started to really hurt and my chest aslo it was really painfult.I was scared but just wanted to get home. I tried to relax as deeply as I could but the pain took about an hour to slowly diminish. I then had burps and thought something eaten had affected me. I got home had a brandy to relax and went to bed as usual. The next day I was in the garden early and began to itch and had bites on my hands and lower arms and later on my head and neck. (the exposed areas of my body the day before). They were very itchy and got bigger and worse. I thought it was a nettle rash, because a month before I had the same thing in my garden. I also felt not so good. Then I remembered I had been to the same place with the mossies when I thought I had nettle rash before. So now I am sure that it was the mossies and a really bad reaction. anyone else??
- —Guest pat
Coincidence?
- Hi, I've always been the one who gets bitten by mosquitoes despite wearing jeans, long sleeves, etc. People around me could be naked and I'm still the only one to get bitten -- usually on the order of 10-20 times. In my early 20's I had some female health issues which necessitated low dose anti-estrogen therapy for 6 months. During that time, I remember being at a pool party in late summer where everyone around me was getting eaten alive, and strangely, I didn't get one bite the entire time. Furthermore, I didn't get any mosquito bites during that 6 month period of time. After going off the therapy -- it's back to the same bite 'incidence', only now I generally bruise and/or get 2-3 inch red patches around each bite. I'd love to try it out again -- although messing around with your hormones, probably isn't the best idea to avoid mosquito bites.
- —Guest Anecdote
onion
- I react to mosquito bites badly. Once I got bit on the forehead and it got as big as a golf ball. I also stay away from tall grass woods etc. my cousin had a wedding outdoors in the woods once and they almost rushed me to emergency. I was covered with bites all over my legs. bug spray does not work for me. my uncle suggested raw onion and that was the best thing ever. It got rid of the itching and they disappeared quickly
- —Guest sharon
Inconsistent reactions
- I am one of those people described as being tasty and a prefered choice of mosquitos. I've always since childhood get more bites then anyone around me. Usually it's a slightly worse then a normal person's reaction, as my bites get about the size of quarters and bright red and scar for years. BUT, this past weekend I got bit all over my ankles and both ankles are swollen to where my ankle bones are no longer visible and they are bruised like I sprained my ankles. The itching is intense and painful. I think the reason why I've reacted this way this time is because I've had a horrible season of allergy symptoms and nothing seems to be working. I'm taking Zyrtec and Benadryl and i'm still miserable. I guess I'm having an "allergy attack" over the last two weeks or so, causing the mosquito bites go haywire with all the histamines running through my system at the moment. To make them feel a little better I've been using cortisone cream and ice packs for some instant relief.
- —Guest Itching in Ohio
hope it helps 2
- I'm reading about these Bad reactions that my son has experienced. I've taking him to the hospital but afterwards make sure he takes his Benadryl every 4 hrs until swelling goes down a little then I could move to every 6hrs. Moltrin has been my lifesaver for the fevers that come from these bites. I think the fever is what is important not to let it pass 100 or it's hospital time. An EMT gave me some advice and been keeping it since, when your little one start with a fever keep his body cool by not having him over dressed, using a cool towel on forehead and tummy and a thin sheet if you need cover. When my son was younger I'd carry him to be able to keep those towels or watch him overnight.Tiring but the fever didn't get worse.Since my son was younger the Benadryl for allergies, Moltrin for fever(Tylenol is good but Moltrin was best for that beginning fever)and don't forget vicks so he won't scratch! That hopefully helps someone get some faster relief!?
- —Guest llg
Prevention-don't let your guard down
- Prevention is the best thing with my 7yr old but even then I forget that just cause there seems to be no mosquitos around,isn't true for my son, they'll come out of nowhere for him. I have learned to use products with no fragrance: regular soaps, wipes w/o fragrance,watch detergents too, no baby lotions,if you have dry skin, use no fragrance cream-only on dry area and better once your inside or going to sleep. My son LOVES to be outside so I found from AVON Skin so Soft in a white bottle called Bug Guard plus w/spf 30 doesn't smell bad and it works for my son. Avon has other colors but it's the white bottle cream which works better than those sprays, deet, etc. I put vicks on his bites to stop the itchiness when you have a little one they won't listen to "don't scratch" so vicks did stop making him scratch and once it goes away with the jumping, on the bed, running around, etc just reapply when they seem to be scratching again. Same for fleas,ant bites (just for the itching).
- —Guest hope it helps
NOT THE SAME THING
- The people who keep posting about the pleasant thing they do for their "bites" such as baby wipes, creams, etc...The people on this site are talking about EXTREME reactions. Hospitalized children. Pus-filled blisters. Big, swollen grapefruit-sized reactions. So, thanks for the "advice", but if you're allergic to mosquito bites, they DON'T WORK. My son will swell, eyes swell shut, gets a fever and horribly tired for days. He has had this happen multiple times. We don't spend a lot of time outdoors.
- —Guest Guest
Horrible Reaction
- There is a way that is safe. If they do get bitten I was perscribed Hydrocortizone liquid to help with the itching as nothing else would help him, put in just a drop of benadryl for the swelling and you can buy all natural oils of tea tree oil, chamomile oil,To make a good insect repellant, mix about 12 parts of citronella essential oil with an equal amount of eucalyptus oil. Add to this, 6 parts of cedarwood and geranium essential oils. Temper it with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and mix well. This solution can be applied anywhere on your exposed skin. However, since this oil is very concentrated and has several oils, it is best to use it sparingly. If you have sensitive or dry skin, it is advisable to mix this blend of oils with an equal amount of olive oil before using it. The mixture is poisonous if ingested therefore it is best to keep it out of the reach of children.This is what my friend uses.Put in a spray bottle and to apply to the face use a cotton ball. I use 4 my son
- —Guest Shaypatina
I think I'm allergic...
- About 3 years ago, I moved from Alabama to Illinois. I have always been a favorite food of mosquitoes (I'll get bitten 25 times and my husband won't get bitten once) but I always had a normal reaction to them. When I moved up here I started reacting very differently to bites. It has gotten worse the longer we have lived here. My bites stay BRIGHT red for around a week and a half, itch so badly they wake me up at night, they get rashes around them, and just recently I have gotten bruises from a couple of bites. Cortisone cream has little effect. When the actual bite does go away, it leaves a purplish scar that lasts for several months. I have fairly severe allergies in general (indoor and outdoor), so being allergic to mosquitoes shouldn't surprise me. I just read that Zyrtec is supposed to lessen reactions to mosquito allergy; however, with my other allergy problems, I take this medicine daily but still have the bruising, swelling, etc. I just think this is all so bizarre...
- —Guest Jenn
child with mosquito allergy
- Hello I have an eight year old with allergic reaction to mosquito bites as described by other users on this site- liquid filled pockets that pop and drain, swelling as large as a tennis ball around bite area, feverish to touch, resulting in bruises or discolored scars, some of which have not gone away after several months. A couple of times when covered in bites from head to toe she has had low fevers and nausea resulting in loss of appetite and vomitting. We spray her down for soccer practice and games or when playing at home. The problem is when she goes to school. She even gets bites underneath clothing on her chest and stomach. We are still working on prevention. I would like suggestions on gentle topical prevention that would be suitable for everyday use with frequent applicaiton. As for treatment her pediatrician gave us an antibiotic jelly that helps to significantly reduce swelling and fever- Mupricocin. We also use a prescription itching and cooling gel- Pramoxgel.
- —Guest Rhonda Armstrong
23 Month Old Daughter
- I have recently discoverd that my 23 month old daughter is allergic to mosquitoes. I myself cant go outdoor without getting eaten alive and she is the same way execpt where my bite goes away by the next day, my little girl's will swell and the redness covers an area about as large as a small grapefruit. Both times I have taken her to the pediatrician for them they told me they were spider bites and ever put her on antibiotics. When I suggested that they it was an allergic reaction to mosquitoes they pretty much said it wasnt possible. About a month ago when outside she had four little white bites that looked like regular mosquitoes bites and they next day they were all swollen just like the previous "spider" bites. The only thing I have found to do is make sure she's completely covered with clothing and putting Skin So Soft bug repellant on her face and hands. If she gets bitten we give her benadryl and put Itch X gel to keep her from scratching, so the bite doesn't become infected.
- —Guest Christie
Will I Be Able To Save My Daughter
- My daughter (who is now 2.5) had her first experience Sept 2008, which resulted in large/red/swollen/feverish area - then blistered - then opened up....this took about 2 weeks to heal with medication. Second encounter was June 2009 which took the same path as before & more medication. Third time was not as fun, infection set in so quickly she ended up in the hospital for 3 days. Fourth time was this past Thursday - she had a shot of kenalog, shot of rocephin & now on amox/sulfatrim. Each time the limb with the bites swells & feverish. We do take precautions - pants in summer, bug spray, light colored clothing - but unfortunately......she goes to daycare & I am not there to oversee every moment. With this said, the lack of bug spray & prevention got us here today. My Question: This time her leg looks bruised.....not something I am use to. Is this normal? WHAT CAN I DO.....Need to save my little girl.
- —Guest Frustrated Scared
Baby wipes help reduce the swelling
- My 3 year old son is allergic to mosquitos and I discovered that as soon as I see him getting bitten I grab the baby wipes and wipe him down. Normally within the hour the swelling and itching is gone. He recently got bitten under his eye and his eye swelled shut. He was not a happy camper but the other 4 bites were gone after the wipe of the baby wipes.
- —flowermomk
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