Mosquito Bites in Children: What to Do
Mosquito bites are much more common than you may think, especially during the summer months. When these bites occur in children, parents must pay special attention, as they may scratch themselves and produce injury.
In general, children are very vulnerable to this sort of bite because they spend a lot of time playing outdoors.
If parents treat these bites properly, then they shouldn’t pose any health threat, even though they’re quite uncomfortable. The good news is that there are many ways to help prevent mosquito bites in children.
Mosquito bites in children: How the body reacts
The first thing that children will notice is that the area around the bite itches. The nerves in their skin transmit this information. What the mosquito does, precisely, is perforate the blood vessel, which automatically activates coagulation in the child’s body.
The mosquito’s saliva deactivates coagulation, which the body recognizes as something strange and reacts against this symptom. This triggers the itching and swelling that are so characteristic of mosquito bites.
In general, the itch produced by mosquito bites occurs in a specific area. But in some cases, especially in children, reactions may occur in other areas far from the bite itself. The intensity of the reaction will always depend on how sensitive a child is to the substances injected by the insect.
What to do when mosquito bites occur in children
In most cases, children realize when they’ve been bitten by a mosquito. Unless they actually see the bite occur, this realization usually takes places when the symptoms of swelling and itching begin.
The unfortunate truth is that children are an easy target for mosquitoes, especially when they spend hours outside, in contact with nature.
When a mosquito bites a child, the first step parents should take is apply ice to the affected area to avoid the above-mentioned symptoms. Applying a deodorant that contains aluminium chloride can also be useful in calming the itch.
At the same time, it’s important to note that cold can numb the area around the bite as well as calm and prevent itchiness. After applying something cold, we recommend applying calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Either of these treatment options will help make the spot disappear in a few days.
If you observe signs of infection, such as excessive swelling, pus or reddening, you should seek medical attention. Children are especially prone to infection because they scratch their mosquito bites constantly.
Lastly, it’s worth pointing out that mosquitoes are also known to be carriers of certain diseases. If you notice any abnormal symptoms, you should take your child to a health center to be examined right away.
“The unfortunate truth is that children are an easy target for mosquitoes, especially when they spend hours outside, in contact with nature”
How to prevent mosquito bites in children
Preventing mosquito bites in children and adults is relatively easy. You just need to keep a few useful tips in mind, especially in regards to children, who suffer the most.
One of the simplest ways to avoid the risk of mosquito bites is to control the time of day that your children play outside.
In general, sunrise and sunset are when mosquitoes are most active. Therefore, it’s best to take special care regarding where your children play at these times.
Another way to prevent bites is to keep mosquitoes and other insects from getting into our homes. A good solution for that is to make sure to install screens in all of the windows in your home, especially in summer. You can also use mosquito netting.
At the same time, it’s important to clean and empty any containers with stagnant water in your home and around your child. This is where mosquitoes reproduce the most.
If your children play outdoors, then you need to make sure to also check for stagnant water where mosquitoes may lay their eggs.
The most traditional method for preventing mosquito bites in children is to apply some sort of repellent to their skin. As for clothing, if children are playing in areas where, inevitably, there are mosquitoes, then they should wear long pants and long sleeves.
In conclusion, mosquito bites are very common in children, but they’re also easy to prevent. In the case that a mosquito bite does occur, treatment is simple. There’s no need to worry – all you need to do is follow the above indications to relieve your little one’s symptoms.