Friday, December 20, 2013

Being Prepared For Mosquito Bite Allergy Reactions

By Tosh Caliberni


When concerned about any difficulties, whether it is a matter of how to get rid of mosquito bites fast, in general, or a more particular focus on the prospects of mosquito bite allergy problems, the concern begins with the saliva. It is female mosquitoes, needing our blood to feed their eggs, which inject their saliva into our skin to make the blood extraction process quicker, easier and more subtle.

It is the chemistry of the saliva, which benefits the mosquito's feeding technique. This same saliva though causes the human reactions to mosquito bites. Usually this reaction is the standard, moderate swelling and itchy irritation. A variety of measures are available to address these normal reactions. It's not ever fun to have to deal with mosquito bites, though the one consolation is that usually they are a relatively brief duration. Thus, as a general rule, mosquito bites pose no health concern for most people, most of the time.

Though rare, however, exceptions do exist. Despite the rareness of the events, though, there is a small chance of genuine danger, so it is wise to keep these exceptions in mind. Signs that a reaction to mosquito bites is not in the range of the usual are the appearance of symptoms such as blistering rashes, bruises, or excessive swelling at the location of the bite. The reference to swelling here should not be confused with a mere swelling of the bitten area. Rather we're referring to a situation in which an entire arm or leg noticeably swells up.

Skeeter Syndrome is the name given to these kinds of mosquito bite allergy reactions. When the polypeptides in the mosquito saliva has a negative reaction with the hosts immune system, this syndrome is the result. This non-contagious illness most commonly occurs among those who have a history of allergic reactions. There is some variation in the beginning of symptom manifestation from an immediate appearance to as many as several days. Vigilance requires being attentive to any sign of the following symptoms:

1. Red lump that rise on the area bitten by the mosquito; 2. The appearance at other parts of the body of other bumps and general swelling; 3. Hives; 4. Bruises and blisters that cannot be explained by other injuries or incidents; 5. Less common, but a telltale sign, is swelling beneath the surface of the skin or mucous membranes; 6. Bite area infection; 7. Asthma-like breathlessness; 8. Though rare, of great concern in the cases of allergic reaction is anaphylaxis.

Awareness of these symptoms are important when anybody exhibits them, however special alertness is required when dealing with people of certain characteristics:

1. People who have a great deal of outdoor exposure, such as outdoor workers and athletes; 2. Those who may lack a strong natural immunity to mosquito saliva, through bite exposure. Young children are one concern and any individuals accustomed to living in regions in which they will not have been exposed to mosquitoes; 3. Immuno-deficiencies are also a concern; watch carefully reactions from those with conditions such as AIDS, leukemia and lymphoma.

The first and foremost advice, when dealing with any extreme allergic reactions, is to immediately consult a physician. There are though preparations that can be of value. Especially when someone in your family or party has a history of allergic reaction, it is recommended to keep on hand anti-allergy medicines. In case asthmatic reactions result, these can often be alleviated with oral anti-histamines. Avoid delay in administering such medication for the optimum relief of symptoms and suffering. However, we repeat, that symptoms such as blisters, difficulty in breathing, short and panting breaths, require immediate medical attention.

In the event of the very unlikely reaction of anaphylaxis, this should be treated no differently than under the same reaction to a bee sting. It is a potentially life threatening situation and immediate hospitalization is required.

It is important to be aware of the worst case scenarios, but there's no benefit in stressing over it. The overwhelming majority of the time mosquito bites are innocuous annoyances easily treated with a variety of home remedies. We hope that those home remedies will be more than enough for you to enjoy your outdoors activities.




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