What to do if your leg is swollen after a mosquito bite

Bite danger

Insects usually attack in two cases - when they want to eat or when they are defending themselves. When an insect bites you, a tumor may not be the worst consequence. Many of their parasites act as carriers of serious diseases, so you should be afraid of:

Malaria mosquitoes carry malaria.
Mosquitoes are infected with leishmaniasis.
Mosquitoes spread fever and Dengue disease.
Lice can transmit typhus.
Fleas carry bubonic plague.
Bedbugs, even domestic species, are contagious with hepatitis B, plague, fever, and tularemia.
Cockroaches can transmit dysentery, helminthic infestation, and tuberculosis.
Tsetse fly is a carrier of sleeping sickness.
House flies, they cause dysentery and typhus.
Ticks cause Lyme disease, encephalitis, and ehrlichiosis.
The hermit spider injects poison that paralyzes the victim and dissolves its organs.
The black widow spider, its poison kills a person in the absence of medical attention.

Mechanism of edema formation

Male mosquitoes feed on nectar, while females search for protein. The fastest way to get it is to drink blood. It is easier to find on delicate areas of the body where blood vessels are close: temples, neck, wrists. Some people do not feel the bite, but the consequences can be serious.

There is no poison in mosquito saliva, so there is no risk of poisoning the body. But considerable troubles, especially for children, are possible. Children suffer the most from itching (How and how to relieve itching from mosquito bites in children and adults, read this article).

Having bitten the skin, the female injects a special protein - an anticoagulant. It slows down blood clotting so that the insect can suck it out effectively . Having drunk, the mosquito flies away, the protein remains in the human body. It reacts to it as if it were a foreign substance and releases histamine to destroy it.

It is an immune substance produced by the body in response to bodily injury, allergens and other irritants. It is this that provokes the appearance of itching, redness, and swelling. The mosquito's saliva spreads around the bite site, it swells, so not only the wound itches, but also the neighboring areas.

Most people have this reaction the first time they are bitten by a particular type of mosquito. With repeated bites it weakens, then disappears completely. The immune system no longer reacts; it learns that such insects do not threaten the body. Some people always have a reaction to bites. If you move to an area where other mosquitoes live, your immune system will respond to their bites.

First aid for swelling, redness

The sore spot should be disinfected to remove infection, prevent the penetration of secondary infection, and stop the inflammatory process. Antiseptics help cope with itching and improve the condition of the skin. To provide first aid, folk remedies and special pharmaceutical preparations are used.

Procedure:

Rinse the bite area with cold water. It is advisable to use laundry soap or antibacterial soap.
Treat with an antiseptic. For this purpose, use any product containing alcohol, citrus juice, tea tree oil, calendula, or baking soda paste. In the wild, they use their own saliva, which is a strong antiseptic.
To relieve swelling, apply ice cubes or any cold object.
At home, special preparations are used after mosquito and midge bites in the form of suspensions, creams, gels, and lotions.
Tincture of valerian and motherwort helps to soothe the skin and get rid of itching.

In most cases, these actions are enough to stop pathological processes, stop allergies, and activate regenerative processes. If there is a strong allergic reaction, therapy is started using pharmaceutical drugs with different mechanisms of action.

First aid

The first thing to do after discovering the site of a mosquito bite is to treat the wound with a disinfectant medicine or folk remedy. This step is necessary to prevent secondary infection from entering the body. Suitable for processing:

alcohol or strong alcohol;
hydrogen peroxide;
vinegar or soda solution;
alcohol tinctures of calendula, propolis, valerian;
Menovazin ointment;
ammonia;
onion juice or gruel;
saturated saline solution;
tar or laundry soap;
natural essential oils of sea buckthorn and tea tree.

If this step is neglected, after scratching the itchy bite, infections will enter the wound, which will lead to inflammation, suppuration and abscesses.

The next stage of first aid at home is relieving tissue swelling. For such purposes, cold compresses and vasoconstrictors are used. To get rid of leg swelling within 24 hours, apply cold applicators to the bite site every 6 hours for 10–15 minutes.

If after the specified time and procedures the swelling does not subside, folk recipes and pharmacological agents are added to the treatment.

Disinfection of the wound

Itching occurs at the site of the bite and the tissues around it, and the hand involuntarily reaches out to itch. If an adult can hold on, a child will not stop. The danger of scratching is the possible infection and the beginning of the inflammatory process, so the wound is treated.

Alcohol and substances containing it

The main property of alcohol that helps after insect bites is its ability to denature the protein in mosquito saliva. It eliminates the reason why the immune system responds with itching. In addition to pure medical alcohol, salicylic and boric alcohol have a similar effect.

There is not always alcohol in the house, but there is cologne. It has long been used for disinfection - it contains 60–75% alcohol. Vodka contains less alcohol - about 40%, but it can also have some denaturing effect. Eau de toilette has a similar effect.

You can simply smear it on the wound, but the alcohol will quickly evaporate. It is better to make a swab and apply it to the bite.

Pharmacy products

If itching appears, the hand swells after a mosquito bite, go to the pharmacy for medicinal drugs. You can buy ointments and many tablets without a prescription.

Ointment

Ointment is the most popular remedy for insect bites. Children often refuse to take pills, and treating the skin with ointment is not difficult.

Fenistil-gel

The gel contains a light insecticidal agent. It has an antihistamine, antiallergic effect, a person gets rid of itching after a bite. Recommended for use if the skin turns red, itches, swelling, or hardening occurs. A thin layer is applied to the skin three times a day. The itching disappears within a few minutes, swelling after a mosquito bite and redness can be relieved after 24 hours.

Psilo-balm

It has antiallergic properties and blocks the action of histamine, which causes itching. Rub into the skin 3-4 times a day. After 5 minutes, the gel is absorbed, the itching goes away instantly. The product cools the skin and soothes irritation resulting from the bite.

Levomekol for inflammation and swelling

The ointment contains:

methyluracil, used for mosquito bites as an immunomodulator;
chloramphenicol, which has an antimicrobial effect.

Treatment with the drug prevents further development of the tumor and relieves the resulting redness and swelling. If a child over 3 years of age has a swollen arm or leg after an insect bite, apply the ointment to the affected area for a week until the symptoms disappear.

Soventol for allergic reactions

If after a bite not only swelling and redness appear, but also other signs of allergy, use Soventol. It prevents the production of histamine, resulting in the formation of edema, and is safe for children over 3 years of age.

If a child with allergies has a large part of their leg swollen after a mosquito bite, then use Soventol, but do not forget to read the instructions to understand what to do with the affected area so as not to harm the baby.

Edema rescuer

Another drug based on herbal ingredients, which effectively relieves swelling, eliminates pain and promotes rapid healing of wounds.

If you are racking your brains trying to figure out what to apply to a mosquito bite on an infant in order to relieve the symptoms that have arisen, then feel free to use Rescuer, which:

contains sea buckthorn oil, which relieves pain;
quickly removes swelling and swelling;
Suitable for children of any age.

Nezulin

The cream-gel contains natural ingredients. To prepare the extract, use:

chamomile;
celandine;
plantain;
licorice.

Essential oils are extracted from basil, mint, and lavender. The most effective way to remove redness is after the first use. Itching is blocked for a short time. It repels other mosquitoes with a specific smell.

Elidel

This is a non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drug. It does not act immediately, but only after some time after rubbing, when the inflammatory process begins to decrease.

This cream can be used to treat bites in children who are already 3 months old.

The product cannot be used for a long time and constantly, but in the case of insect bites, this, fortunately, is not required. It can be applied twice a day with a break of 12 hours.

Cycloderm

To relieve swelling after a mosquito bite, apply the ointment evenly to the affected areas. Apply up to 6 times a day. It also relieves redness caused by insect bites.

Flucinar for swelling

If the hand is very swollen from an insect bite, and the child complains of unbearable itching, use Flucinar. The active substance (fluocinolone) effectively fights swelling, eliminates allergic swelling and reactions. To help an injured child, apply a thin layer of gel to the affected area in the morning and evening.

The drug is not suitable for children under 2 years of age and patients with viral, bacterial or fungal infections of the skin.

Hydrocortisone ointment

Local anti-inflammatory agent, available in 0.5 or 1 percent. Used to suppress redness and swelling after insect bites. Prevents inflammation, removes swelling and itching.

Homeopathic medicines

If, after a mosquito bite, the hand of a small child or an adult who has not had allergies before becomes swollen, you can use special preparations based on herbal ingredients. The products stop the inflammatory process, disinfect, accelerate healing, and relieve swelling.

Homeopathic medicines used after a mosquito bite

Gistan. It works on the basis of dimethicone - silicone, herbal extracts, lily of the valley oil. Improves blood circulation, eliminates inflammation, stops allergies. The swelling on the hand disappears after 1-2 uses. Apply a thin layer over the entire surface. Smells pleasant, absorbs quickly, does not cause side effects. Allowed for use by children from 1 month. Price about 190 rub.
Vundefil. Cream based on medicinal herbs, oils, propolis tincture. Quickly relieves inflammation, irritation, itching, swelling. Normalizes blood circulation, accelerates the healing process, prevents the penetration of secondary infection. Eliminates swelling within a day. Price about 150 rubles. Duration of therapy is up to 7 days.
Nezulin. Often used in pediatrics. Contains D-panthenol, plant extracts, oils. It has pronounced decongestant, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, and healing properties. Smells nice and absorbs well. Apply to the hand up to 4 times a day, the swelling goes away after several treatments. Does not cause side effects; individual intolerance is a contraindication. Price within 100 rubles.

If you have Menovazin solution in your home medicine cabinet, you can safely use it against mosquito bites. Contains 2 pain-relieving components, menthol with a tonic, cooling, calming effect. Menovazin accelerates blood circulation, stimulates metabolism, and helps eliminate swelling. Allowed to use up to 4 times a day. This universal remedy is used for osteochondrosis, headaches, colds, heavy legs, etc., so it should be in every home medicine cabinet. The price of the bottle is 20 rubles.

To prevent the insect from biting the child, use folk remedies - baby cream with vanilla, essential oils of geranium, lavender, citronella, mint. You can also lubricate your hands and feet with Zvezdochka balm or wear mosquito repellent bracelets.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies can also remove swelling after a mosquito attack. Due to safety, their use is recommended for small children.

A lotion made from soda solution, which is prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp, will reduce swelling. l. soda per 200 g of water.
A slurry is also prepared from soda by mixing a small amount of the product with water. It is enough to smear it on the place where the bite is swollen, and very soon the redness, irritation and swelling will subside.
If swelling appears on the face, dandelion, plantain or cabbage juice will help relieve the inflammatory process.
If the bite is inflicted on the finger, resulting in swelling of the hand, then a vinegar solution can be used to relieve the swelling. For a glass of cool water you will need 1 tbsp. l. vinegar. A cotton pad soaked in the solution is applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes. Similar manipulations are carried out when the victim’s leg is swollen.
If your ear is swollen from a mosquito bite and you don’t have the necessary medicine at hand, then you need to lubricate the skin with a saturated salt solution. The concentrated composition will help relieve swelling and unpleasant itching.
Raw potatoes have a good anti-inflammatory effect. Grated potato mixture is applied to the area where the lesion is swollen for half an hour.
The area affected by the blood-sucking insect will not itch and the swelling will quickly disappear if it is periodically smeared with a decoction of medicinal herbs such as chamomile or calendula.
Garlic or onion juice prevents the appearance of itching and swelling in the damaged area. It is enough just to anoint the wound with it or apply a burning mass to it.

First aid and further treatment

First aid for swelling and itching after a mosquito bite:

Wash the affected area with soap and rinse with water. Apply ice in a napkin. These actions will remove dirt and prevent inflammation.
Make lotions using gauze soaked in cold water. You can dilute water with alcohol 1:1.
Point pressure on the site of inflammation with an object with a blunt end for 8 to 10 seconds helps.
It is necessary to apply antiallergic ointment, for example, Fenistil. Hydrocortisone and Sinaflan ointments can be used for children after two years of age.
If an allergic reaction develops, an antihistamine should be given.
If you experience shortness of breath, skin rashes, or vomiting, you should urgently call an ambulance.

What to do if anaphylactic shock occurs? It is necessary to place the child on a flat surface, on his back, ensuring access to oxygen, and wait for an ambulance. This is a fairly rare condition after mosquito bites.

While in nature, far from the city, you need to give an antihistamine and an adrenaline injection (if you have such skills) before the doctors arrive.

Video from Dr. Komarovsky:

Medications

Children's skin is delicate and sensitive. Therefore, you need to select ointments for treatment with caution. If there is no special drug at hand, you can replace it with other means that can have a similar effect.

Table of medications and improvised means:

Special purpose medicines	Available means
Zinc ointment	Alcohol infusion of calendula
Tsindol suspension	Salicylic alcohol
Bepanten plus ointment	Boric alcohol
Balm Star	Corvalol
Ointment Rescuer	Valocordin
Deta balm in pencil form	Zelenka
Gel Psilo-balm	Toothpaste with menthol
Gel Fenistil	Toothpaste with menthol

All these remedies will not only temporarily relieve itching, but also protect children's skin from infection that can develop when scratching.

It is necessary to process up to 4-5 times a day. It is important to explain to the child that these areas should not be combed. Otherwise, the recovery process will be long.

In addition to external remedies for the treatment of edema, medications are taken in the form of tablets. These are antihistamines that are indispensable for allergies.

They will help not only relieve swelling and itching in the child, but also normalize the general condition of the body. Their important advantage is the ability to prevent the transition of initial symptoms to a more severe degree.

Antihistamines that are approved for children:

Folk recipes

Folk recipes will help relieve swelling from a mosquito bite in a child:

Using soda. For the solution: one tablespoon of soda must be dissolved in a glass of water. Lubricate the affected area several times a day. Make a slurry from soda by adding a little water. Apply to the swelling until it dries completely.
Plant juice. The leaves of plantain, cabbage or dandelion must be thoroughly crushed and prepared into a paste, after washing them first. It relieves swelling around the eyes well.
Bulb onions. Has a calming effect. Before applying it to the bite site, you need to make sure that it is not scratched.
Celandine. This plant not only soothes severe itching, but also swelling. The juice has disinfecting properties.
Potato. It needs to be washed, cut into slices, which need to be changed every 30 minutes. This method is well suited for the eyelid area.
Vinegar. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Moisten a cosmetic disc in this liquid and place on the affected area for 30 minutes. Suitable for relieving swelling on the arms, legs and other parts of the body, except the area around the eyes.
Composition for relieving swelling and itching. Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vodka and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar. Crush 2 Validol tablets and combine with the previous components. Mix everything well until the tablets are completely dissolved. Then add 1 glass of cool, boiled water to the finished composition. Mix and pour into a bottle. Gently lubricate the inflamed areas. The mixture is stored in the refrigerator for several days.

How insects affect a child

Most often, children are bitten by Hymenoptera and Diptera insects. If the aggressor has a sting, he, as a rule, also has special glands that produce toxic substances. When they sting, they release precisely these toxins into the wound, which cause local irritation, inflammation, and can cause the development of an allergic reaction. In this case, allergies can be both local and systemic, which is the most dangerous.

Diptera mosquitoes or fleas without any wings do not release venom, but when they bite, they anesthetize the victim with special salivary enzymes, so such bites subsequently itch and itch a lot.

Multiple bites, for example, from lice or fleas, can cause a diffuse allergic reaction, which manifests itself in extensive dermatitis.

A bug bite is very dangerous for a child. It can cause severe swelling, even leading to anaphylactic shock.

A midge or mosquito bite causes local redness, swelling, and pain.

Blood-sucking insects also pose an additional danger - in addition to the itching that appears some time after the bite, there is a possibility of infection with infectious diseases transmitted hematogenously (through blood).

It is almost impossible to protect a child from insects. If at home you can somehow reduce the likelihood of a bite with the help of mosquito nets and fumigators, then on the street in spring, summer and early autumn there is no way to hide from flying and crawling aggressors. Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish dangerous bites from non-dangerous ones and know how to help a child with itching, swelling or pain.

What kind of insect is a horsefly?

Horseflies are large blood-sucking insects. There are more than 4000 varieties in total. Externally, the insect looks like a large fly. Its wings can be variegated or marbled.

The largest population of these insects is in forests and taiga zones. In regions with arid climates, they settle along rivers and lakes. Males are smaller than females, and their eyes touch. Unlike males, the eyes of females are separated by a chitinous stripe, and they also have a proboscis.

The wounds after a bite hurt and bleed for a long time. Only females bite. Males feed on the sap of flowering plants and nectar. Horsefly activity increases in hot weather and before rain. But at temperatures above 32°C their activity decreases. They are attracted to the dark, large and moist body. Females lay eggs near bodies of water on the leaves of plants. The larvae that hatch from them live in a humid environment.

How to treat mosquito bites in children

The mosquito damages children's skin and provokes various symptoms. Pediatricians and pediatric dermatologists suggest using some products that relieve puffiness and swelling in the shortest possible time:

Treating the dermis with ammonia. A special skin lotion will help against mosquitoes.
Swelling that appears after a mosquito attack is eliminated with baking soda. It is used in the form of a paste or solution.

If a mosquito provokes scabies, ointments, balms, sprays, and pencils are used to reduce its severity. Similar compositions include “Vitaon”, “Psilo-balm”, “Zvezdochka”.

Effective ointments include Sinaflan, Fenistil, and Advantan. If a mosquito has attacked the eyes, they are washed with water. Then use ophthalmic drops with anti-inflammatory effects:

"Albucid";
"Sulfacyl sodium."

If a child's lip is injured by a bite, use ice. It will help reduce itching. Children suffering from an allergy to mosquito bites are given an antihistamine after an attack:

"Tavegil";
"Zyrtec";
"Claritin";
Telfast.

Extensive swelling, difficulty breathing, high body temperature require primary medical care. Such symptoms may indicate the development of dangerous forms of allergic diseases, including Quincke's edema and urticaria. For such diagnoses, inpatient treatment is indicated.

Folk remedies for mosquito bites for children

In order to prevent the manifestation of severe allergies on the skin, it is recommended to use certain formulations:

A solution prepared from a glass of water, 1 tsp. soda This remedy is effective against increasing swelling. A paste is also prepared from soda and applied to the problem area until it dries.
Cologne or other alcohol-based product that prevents the development of swelling and itching.
If the eye or eyelid is swollen, use a cabbage leaf. It is pre-washed and softened. You can spread the leaf with honey.
Onions with a calming effect will help relieve swelling from mosquito bites. Its slice is kept on the swollen area for several minutes. Do not use onions if the skin is combed.
The juice is squeezed out of the celandine stem and the wound is treated with it. The therapy has a disinfecting effect, preventing infection.

Treatment of swelling at the site of the bite

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, speed up the healing of the skin, and prevent secondary infections, you need to follow simple steps.

Treatment of swelling at the site of the bite with folk remedies

Immediately after the incident, you need to disinfect the wound using pharmaceutical preparations and folk remedies. How to anoint a mosquito bite:

ammonia;
ammonia;
quality vodka;
table vinegar solution;
baking soda paste;
hydrogen peroxide;
boric alcohol;
tea tree oil, sea buckthorn, calendula;
juice of cucumber, potato, celandine, dandelion, aloe;
plantain leaf;
honey;
menovazin;
propolis tincture;
laundry, tar soap;
saliva;
tincture of valerian, motherwort, calendula.

Regular cold or warm water is also used to wash the wound on the leg. The therapeutic effect occurs with water of any temperature. But cold quickly eliminates swelling, constricts blood vessels, relieves itching, and relieves pain.

The next stage of therapy is aimed directly at relieving swelling. At home use:

ice cubes wrapped in cheesecloth;
meat or fish from the freezer;
an aloe leaf, previously placed in the freezer for a few minutes;
chilled bottle of drink;
cold water compress.

On a note!
The procedure should be done about 4 times a day. After such active actions, swelling from a mosquito bite subsides within 24 hours.

How to quickly get rid of a mosquito bite

Every person should know what to do if they are bothered by mosquitoes and how to relieve swelling from an insect bite. This can be done both with folk remedies and with special preparations. Typically, bites manifest themselves in the form of itching and slight swelling that interfere with life. There are several basic methods that can help in the process of eliminating unpleasant symptoms.

First of all, experts recommend lubricating the bite sites with ammonia. If you don’t have it on hand, you can cool the area with water and the itching will disappear.

Experts also consider a baking soda solution to be a good remedy. Approximately 1/2 tsp is diluted per glass of water. Or you can apply it in the form of a paste.

If you have been bitten on the leg and the foot is swollen, as a rule, unpleasant pain occurs; onion juice will help get rid of it. To do this, just peel a fresh onion and apply the cut side to the bite site. Both itching and unpleasant pain will disappear.

There are many medications that help relieve swelling and other unpleasant symptoms. Examples of such gels and ointments include “Zvezdochka”, “Vitaon”, “Psilo-balm”. Such drugs are inexpensive, but they get rid of itching in a matter of seconds.

Special antihistamines, such as Sinaflan, Advantan, Fenistil-gel, often help. It is very important not to use medications on mucous membranes (eyes, lips, etc.). For such places, an ordinary frozen piece of ice is more suitable. As you can see, insect bites, the treatment of which is not so difficult, can be easily disarmed.

What not to do

If a child has a bite, presumably left by an insect, you should not try to find out on your own which “beast” bit your beloved child. This is a waste of time.

First aid is universal for any bite, and severe forms that require medical intervention are “investigated” in the laboratory. The type of toxin and the presumed species of the insect will become clear after analyzing the infiltrate from under the skin.

Do not smear the bite site with iodine or alcohol. This will only increase the redness and burning sensation. There is also no need to use antibiotics or antibiotic ointments.

You cannot apply hormonal ointments to a child’s bite sites without a doctor’s recommendation. The use of hormones is prescribed as a last resort. Without the knowledge of the doctor, such drugs can only be used in an emergency situation where life is threatened.

When to see a doctor

Edema syndrome in newborns is more intense, so when the first alarming symptoms appear, it is better to immediately show the baby to a pediatrician. For older children, keep an eye on the big picture.

It is necessary to sound the alarm if, after a mosquito bite, a child experiences:

severe swelling, spreading to adjacent tissues and exceeding 3 cm in diameter;
inflammatory process accompanied by suppuration of an infected wound;
nausea and dizziness;
rise in temperature, including chills or fever;
sharp pain and burning sensation in the bitten area;
weakness and headaches;
cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory failure (with damage to the respiratory system);
cyanosis of the skin;
hives, bumps, blisters and lumps that last more than 2 days.

If a child’s legs become swollen after being bitten, he complains of severe pain, and a detailed examination of the affected area reveals small holes - sound the alarm. With such symptoms, there is a high probability of infection with nematodes. A pediatric phlebologist will help you get rid of parasites.

If, after being bitten on the finger, the child’s entire hand is swollen, then there is a high probability of extensive allergic edema. Of particular danger is swelling from bites in the eyes, which can damage vision, as well as in the throat, which threatens to block the airways and subsequent suffocation. If anaphylaxis is suspected, you should:

place the child on a flat surface;
provide sufficient air;
contact an ambulance immediately.

Why does swelling occur?

A blood-sucking mosquito, before drinking a drop of blood from a person, releases saliva with special enzymes during the bite. These substances do not allow blood to clot in the first minutes, have a short-term analgesic effect and, most importantly, can trigger a cascade of allergic reactions in people with a predisposition to this.

If after a mosquito bite a child or adult experiences swelling in the first minutes, this indicates a normal reaction. But if the tumor grows, itches severely and does not go away, then this is an indicator of an allergy to a mosquito bite with local manifestations.

A mosquito bite is more worrying if it is swollen in a child. In this case, you should not always panic. It is believed that severe swelling, blister and intense itching occurs in almost all children under 5 years of age. This is explained by thin and sensitive skin and accelerated metabolism.

Severe swelling after a bite in a child

Typically, a child’s swelling lasts for a day, and the next day it is almost completely gone. Most often, puffiness and swelling reaches large sizes if the bite site is in the area near the eye and on the eyelid. But in some children, after a mosquito bite, against the background of skin changes, general signs of an allergic reaction may appear, these include:

The spread of edema is more than 10-15 cm.
Increasing itching, increasing hyperemia at the site of the bite.
Local and general body temperature.
Chills, severe weakness.
Drowsiness.
Tachycardia.
Dizziness.
Deterioration of breathing.

When recording these signs in a child, parents should know that this is a serious allergy to a mosquito bite. With such manifestations, external treatment must be combined with the use of oral medications. You should immediately call emergency help if a child, after a swollen mosquito bite on his face, develops shortness of breath, palpitations, severe lethargy and drowsiness. Fortunately, such a reaction to mosquitoes is extremely rare, but it can happen after being bitten by a bee or wasp.

You can cope with local swelling after mosquito bites yourself, using traditional methods and pharmaceutical preparations. When choosing a method to eliminate the effects of mosquitoes on your child’s skin, be sure to take into account the age and reaction to various medications.

Allergic reaction to a bite

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Preventive actions

In order to protect children from mosquito bites and the development of culicidosis, parents must adhere to several simple rules:

use fumigators and mosquito nets indoors (especially in the child’s bedroom);
put on your baby natural clothes in light shades that cover the body as much as possible (in particular, during evening walks in the summer);
avoid wetlands, “stagnant” reservoirs and other places where blood-sucking insects gather in large numbers;
refrain from walking in the forested area after rain;
use skin repellents (the most popular means at hand are eucalyptus oil, tincture of valerian, chamomile);
give up sweet aromas that mosquitoes actively flock to;
when relaxing outdoors in the evening, make a fire;
Always carry antiallergic drugs (Loratadine, Suprastin, etc.) with you so that at the first allergic symptoms you can relieve the body’s immune reaction.
Modern means for protecting children from mosquito bites are various bracelets, clips, and patches.

If swelling due to mosquito bites is a problem that a child faces every season, doctors recommend taking a course of immunotherapy. This measure will reduce the degree of sensitivity of the child’s body to those aggressive substances that are present in mosquito saliva.

So, an allergic reaction to insect bites is a common phenomenon that can lead to unpleasant symptoms (swelling, itching, hyperemia, the appearance of a thickening on the skin).

Depending on the severity of the problem, local non-steroidal or hormonal ointments (gels, creams, solutions), as well as systemic antihistamines, can be used to combat the consequences of the child’s body’s protective reaction to the action of insect saliva. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock (suffocation, swelling of the face, neck, nasopharynx, excessive lacrimation) are a reason to immediately call first aid.

Useful tips

You should not immediately use antihistamine or hormonal ointments after mosquito bites. With frequent use of the drugs, an overdose may occur, side effects, addiction may develop, and atrophy of the epidermis may develop. It is advisable to use special medications only if there are clear signs of a severe allergic reaction.

A remedy for mosquito bites from the homeopathy category should be in every home medicine cabinet. The drugs are safe, non-addictive, rarely cause side effects, and are highly effective. To prevent insect attacks, it is recommended to use mosquito repellents while walking or being outdoors.

Sources

https://mymedic.clinic/biologicheskie/ukus-nasekomogo-opuhol-i-pokrasnenie.html
https://GdeKlop.ru/komary/sredstva-dlya-snyatiya-oteka/
https://allergia24.ru/allergeny/allergija-na-nasekomyh/allergicheskaja-reakcija-na-ukus-komara-kak-snjat-otek/
https://apest.ru/komary/ukusy-komarov/opuhol-i-pokrasnenie-ot-ukusa-komara/
https://OtekOff.ru/otek/deti/ukusy-komarov-u-detej
https://o-krohe.ru/problemy-rebenka/ukus-kak-snyat-opuhol/
https://notklop.ru/komary/ukusy-komarov/opuhol-i-pokrasnenie-ot-ukusa-komara/
https://otravlen.info/ukusy/otek-ot-ukusov-komarov.html
https://tarakanam.com/ukus-komara

Possible dangers

If, after providing first aid and treatment with special medications for 3 days, relief still does not occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. Swelling in some cases becomes a side symptom of serious diseases carried by bloodsuckers:

Malaria is an infectious disease that is accompanied by high fever and anemia.
Dirofilariasis is an infection with the larvae of nematode worms.
Tularemia – accompanied by an acute rise in body temperature to +40 degrees.
Viral fever.

People who have been bitten by a bite and who, in addition to swelling, have the following symptoms, need immediate medical examination:

heat, fever;
joint pain;
weakness;
nausea;
headache;
visual impairment.

Against the background of swelling of the tissues of the limbs, some people become more active:

chronic inflammatory processes;
allergic dermatitis in the form of urticaria;
otitis, rhinitis, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.

Severe swelling of the leg after a mosquito bite is a sure sign of a serious malfunction of the immune system, which results in an allergic reaction. After relieving symptoms and eliminating swelling, you need to visit an allergist to select medications and understand the reasons for this reaction of the body.