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Mosquitoes are some of the most annoying pests you can come around. Primarily because of their relentless buzzing on your face and ears as they hover around you and occasionally swoop in to try and take a bite at you.

It is nearly impossible to sleep when your house is infested with mosquitoes. A mosquito bite is painful and akin to being pricked by a sharp needle. That sounds right because the anatomy of a female mosquito includes a mouth area that has a long tube like appendage known as a proboscis. It is this appendage that a mosquito uses to pierce the skin and suck on blood.

The female mosquito

Surprisingly, not all mosquitoes bite. It is the female mosquitoes that have been equipped with the necessary mouth parts to endow them with the ability to draw blood from humans and livestock. The male mosquito is not equipped with a proboscis and therefore does not bite and instead feeds on grasses. The female mosquito also known as the anopheles mosquito is the one that bites and feeds on blood. The blood diet is necessary for it to be able to reproduce.

Swollen mosquitoes bite

Mosquito bites are not only painful but cause itchy bumps on the skin at the bite area. Fortunately the bump often clears up on its own in a couple of days.

However, a mosquito’s bite can occasionally cause a large area of swelling, redness and soreness. Although this can happen with adults, it mostly occurs in children and it is referred to as skeeter syndrome.

Because of the swelling and itchiness of the mosquito bite in both adults and kids, the scratching can result in puncturing the bump to create a small wound which can easily get infected.

Skeetersymdrome is as a result of a mosquito bite on a person who has not grown accustomed to mosquito bites. The bite tends to swell up to a very large size, and may be accompanied by fever. Skeetersymdrome can be treated through Medical procedures such as immunotherapy.

How to avoid mosquito bites

The best way to avoid swollen mosquito bites is to take preventative measures from being bitten by mosquitoes. Here’s how:

1. Avoid areas with stagnant water
2. Wear clothing that covers all the body with no exposed areas. Such as longsleeved shirts, pants, scarf to protect the neck.
3. Avoiding outdoors during the dusk and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active

Using effective bug repellent such as DEET can be of great help in preventing mosquito bites. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, DEET repellent products offer you protection from mosquitoes for 2–6 hours.

Conclusion

Getting rid of any stagnant water in and around your home should take care of any lingering mosquitoes. Sleeping under a mosquito net will also save you a lot of mosquito trouble. If nothing seems to be working and the infestation is not receding, the problem may be bigger than you know. Call a licensed pest officer for help in getting rid of mosquitoes in your house and compound.