Mosquito Bite

When to Call for Mosquito Bite

Care Advice

Treatment for Mosquito Bites

1. What You Should Know About Mosquito Bites:
   • In the United States and Canada, mosquito bites rarely carry any disease.
   • They cause itchy red skin bumps.
   • Most of the time, the bumps are less than ½ inch (12 mm) in size. In young children, they can be larger.
   • Some even have a small water blister in the center.
   • A large hive at the bite does not mean your child has an allergy.
   • The redness does not mean the bite is infected.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Steroid Cream for Itching:
   • To reduce the itching, use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid). No prescription is needed. Put it on 3 times a day until the itch is gone. If you don't have, use a baking soda paste until you can get some.
   • If neither is available, use ice in a wet washcloth for 20 minutes.
   • Also, you can put firm, sharp, direct, steady pressure on the bite. Do this for 10 seconds to reduce the itch. A fingernail, pen cap, or other object can be used.
3. Allergy Medicine for Itching:
   • If itching becomes severe, give a dose of Benadryl.
   • No prescription is needed. Age limit: 1 and older.
4. Try Not to Scratch:
   • Cut the fingernails short.
   • Help your child not to scratch.
   • Reason: Prevent a skin infection at the bite site.
5. Antibiotic Ointment:
   • If the bite has a scab and looks infected, use an antibiotic ointment. An example is Polysporin.
   • No prescription is needed. Use 3 times per day. (Note: Usually infection caused by scratching bites with dirty fingers).
   • Cover the scab with a bandage (such as Band-Aid). This will help prevent scratching and spread.
   • Wash the sore and use the antibiotic ointment 3 times per day. Do this until healed.
6. What to Expect:
   • Most mosquito bites itch for 3 or 4 days.
   • Any pinkness or redness lasts 3 or 4 days.
   • The swelling may last 7 days.
   • Bites of the upper face can cause severe swelling around the eye. This does not hurt the vision and is harmless.
   • The swelling is often worse in the morning after lying down all night. It will improve after standing for a few hours.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Bite looks infected (redness gets larger after 48 hours)
   • Bite becomes painful
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

West Nile Virus Questions

1. West Nile Virus (WNV) - What You Should Know:
   • WNV is a disease carried by mosquitoes. It can be spread to humans through a mosquito bite.
   • About 1% of mosquitoes carry WNV.
   • Of people who get WNV, less than 1% get the serious kind.
   • Here are some facts that should help.
2. Symptoms of WNV:
   • No symptoms: 80% of WNV infections.
   • Mild symptoms: 20% of infections. Symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches. Some have a skin rash. These symptoms last 3-6 days. They go away without any treatment. This is called WNV fever.
   • Serious symptoms: less than 1% (1 out of 150) of WNV infections. Symptoms are high fever, stiff neck, confusion, coma, seizures, and muscle weakness. The muscle weakness is often just on one side. The cause is infection of the brain (encephalitis) or spinal cord (viral meningitis).
   • Death: 10% of those who need to be in the hospital.
   • Child cases are most often mild. Most serious cases occur in people over age 60.
3. Diagnosis of WNV:
   • Mild symptom cases do not need to see a doctor. They do not need any special tests.
   • Severe symptom cases (with encephalitis or viral meningitis) need to see a doctor right away. Special tests on the blood and spinal fluid will be done to confirm WNV.
   • Pregnant or nursing women need to see a doctor if they have WNV symptoms.
4. Treatment of WNV:
   • No special treatment is needed after a mosquito bite.
   • There is no special treatment or anti-viral drug for WNV symptoms.
   • People with serious symptoms often need to be in the hospital. They will be given IV fluids and airway support.
   • There is not yet a vaccine to prevent WNV in humans.
5. WNV - Spread by Mosquitoes:
   • WNV is spread by the bite of a mosquito. The mosquito gets the virus from biting infected birds.
   • Even in an area where WNV occurs, less than 1% of mosquitoes carry the virus.
   • Spread is mosquito-to-human.
   • Person-to-person spread does not occur. Kissing, touching, or sharing a glass with a person who has WNV is safe.
   • Mothers with mosquito bites can breastfeed (CDC 2003), unless they get symptoms of WNV.
   • It takes 3-14 days after the mosquito bite to get WNV.
   • In United States and Canada, the peak summers for WNV were 2002, 2003 and 2012.

Insect Repellent Questions

1. Prevention Tips:
   • Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat.
   • Avoid being outside when the bugs are most active. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Limit your child's outdoor play during these times.
   • Get rid of any standing water. (Reason: It's where they lay their eggs.)
   • Keep bugs out of your home by fixing any broken screens.
   • Insect repellents containing DEET are very good at preventing mosquito bites. Read the label carefully.
2. DEET Products - Use on the Skin:
   • DEET is a good mosquito repellent. It also repels ticks and other bugs.
   • US Age limit: if less than 2 months old, avoid all DEET products (AAP).
   • US: for children 2 months to 2 years old, use 10% DEET. After 2 years old, can use 30% DEET.
   • Protection: 10% DEET protects for 2 hours. 30% DEET protects for 6 hours.
   • Don't put DEET on the hands if your child sucks their thumb or fingers. (Reason: Prevent swallowing DEET)
   • Warn older children who apply their own DEET to use less. A total of 3 or 4 drops can protect the whole body.
   • Put on exposed areas of skin. Do not use near eyes or mouth. Don't use on skin that is covered by clothing. Don't put DEET on sunburns or rashes. (Reason: DEET can be easily absorbed in these areas.)
   • Wash it off with soap and water when your child comes indoors.
   • Caution: DEET can damage clothing made of man-made fibers. It can also damage plastics (eye glasses) and leather. DEET can be used on cotton clothing.
3. Permethrin Product - Use on Clothing:
   • Products that contain permethrin (such as Duranon) work well to repel mosquitos and ticks.
   • Unlike DEET, these products are put on clothing instead of on the skin.
   • Put it on shirt cuffs, pant cuffs, shoes and hats. Can also put it on mosquito nets and sleeping bags.
   • Do not put permethrin on the skin. (Reason: Sweat changes it so it does not work).
4. Picaridin Products:
   • Picaridin is a repellent that is equal to 10% DEET.
   • It can safely be put on skin or clothing.

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.