What to do if you are allergic to mosquito and midge bites
Miscellaneous / / June 16, 2022
For some, funds after bites will not be enough.
Why there is an allergy to mosquito bites and midges
Mosquitoes and midges belong to the same order Diptera, so they have a lot in common. Only females bite. When they fill up with blood squirtMosquito bites / Mayo Clinic saliva into the wound. It contains proteins that prevent blood from clotting. They are foreign to the human body, so they cause an immune system reaction.
Manifestations will depend on activity immunity. People who have never been bitten, such as babies, may never don't reactTake a Bite Out of Mosquito Stings / American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, because their body has not yet met with such proteins and does not know what to do in this situation. But in most bites, they swell a little, turn red and itch. Some people get severe allergic reactions.
Who is more likely to develop allergies to mosquito and midge bites?
Risk aboveMosquito bites / Mayo Clinic:
- in children;
- adults visiting an area with a new species of insect for the first time;
- people with diseases of the immune system, relatedI. Kyriakidis, E. Vasileiou, S. Karastrati A. Tragiannidis, N. Gompakis, M. Hatzistilianou. Primary EBV infection and hypersensitivity to mosquito bites: a case report / Virologica Sinica with a virus Epstein - Barr;
- patients with mastocytosisN. Reiter, M. Reiter, S. Altrichter, S. C. Becker, F. Siebenhaar. Anaphylaxis caused by mosquito allergy in systemic mastocytosis / The Lancet - a rare disease in which mast cells containing allergy mediators accumulate in various organs and tissues.
Can an allergy to mosquito and midge bites be life threatening?
Yes. Sometimes developsTake a Bite Out of Mosquito Stings / American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Anaphylaxis is a dangerous, life-threatening condition. Fortunately, this exceptionalCan one be ‘allergic’ to mosquito bites? / European Center for Allergy Research Foundation cases.
However, insect bites can leadMosquito bites / Mayo Clinic to death: they carry pathogens of dangerous diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever. But it has nothing to do with allergies.
Is it possible to know in advance if there is an allergy to mosquitoes and midges
No. Still knownCan one be ‘allergic’ to mosquito bites? / European Center for Allergy Research Foundation the structure of only part of the saliva proteins of these insects, and diagnostic panels were used only in studies.
That's why to knowMosquito bites / Mayo Clinic about allergies is possible only when there is a strange reaction to the bite: massive edema and unbearable itching in the affected area.
How to understand that you are allergic to midge and mosquito bites
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Normal reaction to bites. Photo: dimid_86 / Shutterstock
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Allergy to mosquito or midge bites. Photo: Yavdat/Shutterstock
About the development of an allergic reaction they say:
- swelling and heat at the site of the bite;
- red blisters - hives;
- sometimes swollen lymph nodes.
In the worst case, anaphylaxis develops, which can be fatal.
Another variant of bite allergy is Skeeter's syndrome. This is a rare inflammatory reaction includesSkeeter Syndrome Defined/American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology:
- severe swelling of the bite site;
- fever in that area;
- temperature rise to 38 degrees for several days;
- severe itching;
- pain;
- sometimes vomitR. Perez-Vanzzini, S.N. Gonzalez‑Díaz, A. Arias‑Cruz, S. Palma-Gomez, A. Yong‑Rodriguez, J.J Gutierrez‑Mujica, D. García‑Calderín, J.A. Ibarra. Hypersensitivity to mosquito bite manifested as Skeeter sindrome / Revista Alergia Mexico.
Such symptoms can to acceptMosquito bites / Mayo Clinic for an infection that developed due to the ingestion of bacteria in scratched bites.
When to see a doctor urgently
callTake a Bite Out of Mosquito Stings / American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology ambulance as soon as possible with signs of anaphylactic shock:
- difficult breathing;
- weakness up to loss of consciousness;
- disorientation;
- pallor and clammy sweat.
ContactInsect bites / FBUZ "Center for Hygienic Education of the Population" of Rospotrebznadzor see a doctor if:
- a red spot or blister with a diameter of more than 10 centimeters appeared at the site of the bite;
- the wounds became inflamed: pus appeared, the temperature rose, the state of health worsened;
- bite the face near the eyes and mouth, swollen eyelid or lips;
- in the evening and the next day, the symptoms only intensify;
- you have persistent exhausting itching and a general deterioration in well-being.
What will doctors do
You may appointInsect bites and stings / The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne steroids in pills, injections, or drips and will teach you what to do with a strong reaction another time. For example, they will advise you to wear an injector pen.
With the development of anaphylaxis, the doctor will renderN. AND. Ilyina, I. B. Zabolotskikh, N. G. Astafieva A. AND. Bayalieva A. AT. Kulikov, T. AT. Latysheva1, K. M. Lebedinsky, T. FROM. Musaeva, T. N. Myasnikova A. N. Pampura, R. FROM. Fassakhov, L. G. Khludova, E. M. Shifman. Anaphylactic shock. Clinical recommendations of the Russian Association of Allergists and Clinical Immunologists and the All-Russian public organization "Federation of anesthesiologists and resuscitators" / Bulletin of Intensive Care named after BUT. AND. Saltykov anti-shock help: will introduce adrenaline or epinephrine, glucocorticosteroids and antihistamines.
How to cope with allergies to mosquito bites and midges on your own
Other than the situations listed above, bites are practically harmless. They pass at home even without treatment. To alleviate the condition:
- rinse bites soap and water;
- elevate the affected part of the body and apply ice to it to reduce swelling;
- spot-on a calamine or zinc mash;
- if necessary, use a cream based on steroids (mometasone or others) or drink antihistamines, such as those based on chloropyramine or cetirizine.
How to prevent allergies to mosquitoes and midges
Avoiding bites is almost impossible, but you can try reduceTake a Bite Out of Mosquito Stings / American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology their probability.
- Try to be less in nature in the evenings and at night.
- Avoid shady and damp places, ponds with stagnant water.
- Do not wear bright clothes and do not use perfume if you are going outdoors - this attracts insects.
- Use repellents with DEET (diethyltoluamide). They will provide protection for several hours. But they can also cause a reaction, so before the first use, try to apply means on a small patch of skin and observe.
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