How To Get Rid Of Mosquito Bites

Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment

Female mosquitoes bite people and animals to get a blood meal. Most female mosquitoes cannot produce eggs without a blood meal. Male mosquitoes do not bite people and animals.

What Happens When a Mosquito Bites You

Mosquito bite on the back of a boy's neck.

Mosquito bite on the back of a boy's neck. Credit: Getty Images.

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces the skin using a special mouthpart (proboscis) to suck up blood. As the mosquito is feeding, it injects saliva into your skin. Your body reacts to the saliva resulting in a bump and itching.

Some people have only a mild reaction to a bite or bites. Other people react more strongly, and a large area of swelling, soreness, and redness can occur.

Symptoms

Mosquito bite signs include:

A puffy and reddish bump appearing a few minutes after the bite
A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
Small blisters instead of hard bumps
Dark spots that look like bruises

More severe reactions can occur in:

Children
Adults bitten by a mosquito species they haven't been exposed to previously
People with immune system disorders

Mosquito bite on the inside of a person's forearm.

Mosquito bite on the inside of a person's forearm. Credit: Getty Images.

People experiencing more severe reactions may have the following signs:

A large area of swelling and redness
Low-grade fever
Hives
Swollen lymph nodes

Treatment

Wash the area with soap and water.
Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Reapply ice pack as needed.
Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, which can help reduce the itch response.

Anti-itch cream for a mosquito bite. Credit: Getty Images.
- Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.
- Apply the paste to the mosquito bite.
- Wait 10 minutes.
- Wash off the paste.
Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching. Follow the product label directions.

Complications

Infected bite

Do not scratch bites. They can become infected.
An infected bite may appear red, feel warm, or a red streak will spread outward from the bite.
See a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.

Mosquito-borne diseases

Mosquitoes spread germs through bites. Viruses like West Nile and dengue and parasites like malaria can make you sick.
A mosquito gets infected with a virus or parasite when it bites a person or animal that is infected. The infected mosquito can spread germs to other people or animals through bites.
Not everyone infected with a mosquito-borne germ gets sick.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

You can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellentsexternal icon.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
Control mosquitoes inside and outside.
Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas.

Resources

Activity Book for Kids – Mosquito Bites are Bad!

English pdf icon [PDF – 16 pages]
Spanish pdf icon [PDF – 16 pages]