Mosquitoes are a type of insects that are around every one since greater than thirty million years. They usually bite the animals to suck the blood of the animal. The mosquitoes have certain sensors which help them to get the prey.  These sensors are classified as visual sensors, chemical and heat sensors. The chemical sensors will aid in sensing the lactic acid and carbon-dioxide that are hundred feet distant. The chemicals present in the sweat also aid in attracting the mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are able to identify the person moving and wearing the clothes that are having contrast color to the background color. If they identify anyone moving they consider that person as alive and decide to bite the person to get blood as their food. The heat is felt by the mosquitoes and they can differentiate warm blooded animals from cold blooded animals.

The head of the mosquitoes consists of apparatus for biting. The head also consists of antennae, which can identify the chemicals and the mouth parts known as palpus and proboscis. The wings and legs are attached to the thorax and this part consists of nerve cell ganglia, flight muscles, compound heart and trachioles. The abdominal region is comprised of excretory organs and digestive organs.

The mosquito bites can transmit many diseases that are serious like Malaria, Dengue fever and West Nile virus. The mosquito bites are made by the mosquitoes during the dawn or at dusk mostly. They are said to be active mostly during this period. The female mosquitoes are found to be mostly involved in biting humans. The female mosquitoes require the meals that are bloody to release eggs. The female mosquito bites the human to feed on the blood and inject the saliva into the skin. The saliva consists of different proteins, which are involved in avoiding the clotting of blood. The saliva also consists of proteins that allow the blood to flow into the mouth of mosquito.

The proteins present in the saliva of the mosquito trigger many immune reactions, which include allergic reactions. Many people have various allergic reactions towards mosquito bites   and the symptoms would alter as time passes based on the number of bites of the mosquitoes. The allergic responses can be of delayed or immediate swelling and itching surrounding the area where the mosquito has bit. The allergic responses gradually reduce as years pass towards the mosquito bite.

The mosquito bite can result in Skeeter syndrome. The bite can lead to the blistery rashes, swelling at the bite area and bruises. If the swelling area is more at the bite region, then it is termed as “Skeeter syndrome”.

Symptoms of Mosquito bite

• The common symptoms of mosquito bite are bumps that are pale and soft present on the skin. They become pink and red after biting.
• Itching.
• The mosquito bite can cause a bump which appears immediately or might take two days to stay.
• If the skin is more sensitive to mosquito bite, then the region of itching might increase.
• Swelling in the throat, wheezing and hives occur as a result of serious response.
• The severe reaction to the mosquito bite needs medical help for a life threatening state called as anaphylaxis.
• The mosquito bite can cause severe diseases like yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever and west Nile fever. The symptoms of serious infections caused by mosquito bite are

o   Severe headache

o   Muscle weakness or neurological changes

o   Fever

o   Nausea

o   Body pains

o   Vomiting

o   Rashes

o   Swollen glands

o   Lethargy

o   Light sensitivity

o   Confusion

• The immune reaction to the proteins causes itching and bumps.

Causes of mosquito bite

The mosquito bite will not cause serious illness unless it carries an organism.

• The mosquito bite is caused by the piercing of the proboscis part of the female mosquito.
• The female mosquito will feed on the blood by cutting open the skin and suck the blood.
• The saliva is deposited on the skin and it consists of proteins that get retained on the skin.

• The people who are at the outdoors for long duration are susceptible to mosquito bites.
• The people who have low immunity towards the mosquito bite like children and the people who have come to that region for the first time and did not get exposed to the mosquitoes of that area are at high risk of getting bitten.
• The people suffering from immuno deficiencies like lymphomas, leukemias and AIDS are at high risk of being allergic to the mosquito bites.

Home remedies for mosquito bite

• The usage of banana peels works effectively for mosquito bite. The pulpy surface of the banana peel will help in bringing relief to the itching.
• The mosquito bite has to be cleaned with soap and water.
• The swelling can be alleviated by using an ice pack.
• The fluid can be drawn by applying an agent that is meant for drying. The bite can be applied with the paste that is made up of baking soda and salt water. The toothpaste is also found to have the capacity to draw liquids from the skin as it dries on the skin.
• The itchiness can be alleviated by applying alcohol or vodka and also hand sanitizers.
• Peppermint oil can be used for making the area numb and it offers immediate relief from pain and irritation. This oil also functions as the mosquito repellant. So, people use tooth paste as an ointment on the skin.
• The bite can be brought relief by the aroma therapists by using lavender oil or tea tree oil with the help of a cotton swab.
• An onion slice can also be cut and applied slowly on the bite to bring relief to the itching and irritation.
• The garlic clove can be cut and rubbed on the region where the mosquito has bitten.
• The rashes and itching that is caused by the mosquito bite are brought relief by applying calamine solution using a cotton swab in the affected area. This lotion is known to show effective remedy for mosquito bite.
• As mosquitoes do not like the taste of marmite toast, eating a slice of marmite toast everyday morning will prevent mosquitoes to bite.
• The itching sensation of the mosquito bite can be relieved by soaking the cotton ball in vinegar and applying on the skin area.
• Copper penny is a very good remedy for mosquito bite. Attach a copper coin to the region for a night and the itching will be gone.
• The itching is stopped by applying the white vinegar on the wound and rubbing it with banana peel.
• Relief by household items: Rubbing soap bar on the bite, rubbing alcohol, hot water and ice pack on it will bring relief. The scotch tape placed on the bite also helps.
• Topical applications to bring relief quickly: Strong tea, nail polish, tooth paste, honey, vinegar, deodorant, mouthwash, ammonia, bleach and rubbing alcohol.
• Pastes: water and meat tenderizer, Epsom salt and water, tums tablets and water, aspirin mixed with water, aspirin with alcohol.
• Ointments and creams: These are available commercially and they can be used for applying on the bite to bring relief. They are Benadryl cream, orajel, caladryl, anbesol, vicks vaporub, preparation H, tiger balm, lucas papaw ointment, bag balm, Mylanta, gold bond medicated cream applied after bite.
• Some of the essential oils that help in mosquito bite are cedar oil and witch hazel oil.
• The leaves of plantain and basil are helpful in this regard.
• Fruits: Application of lemon juice or lemon slice and banana peel on the bite will bring relief to that area.
• Rubbing apple cider vinegar on the bite directly or using leaf extract of Aloe Vera on the bite are very good home remedies.
• If the bite is very severe and unbearable, then the Alka-Seltzer tablets are mixed in water and applied on the bites to bring relief.