Care for swollen and itchy skin from mosquito bites

The typical symptoms that appear when bitten by a mosquito are itching and swelling However, if other symptoms appear in addition to these two, you should suspect a 'mosquito allergy.' Since severe cases can threaten life, leading to respiratory distress and shock, special caution is required.

The most common symptom is swelling of the skin. The bitten area becomes red, swollen, and itchy, and in severe cases, blisters may form. In severe cases, a rash resembling hives may also appear. These symptoms are most common in children.

It generally occurs frequently in young children with weak immune systems. Patients with respiratory diseases, such as atopic dermatitis or asthma, as well as pregnant women, must be especially careful. Special caution is required, as there is a risk that if a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus during pregnancy, it can affect the fetus and result in the birth of a child with microcephaly.

The best way is to wear long-sleeved clothes. In addition, there are various preventive measures indoors, such as checking window screens and sealing gaps in window frames, wearing light-colored long pants during outdoor activities, and using insect repellent. However, since it is difficult to completely block them, it is best to make every effort to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible.

First, hospitals prescribe antihistamines or steroid ointments, and may also administer injection therapy. However, since these are not fundamental treatments, the recurrence rate is high. Therefore, prevention is the best course of action, and it is advisable to wear long clothing to minimize exposed areas when going out.