Circa 1995 Are you a tasty, juicy morsel for a mosquito's dinner? What makes one person more susceptible to bites than another? How can the annoying itch be avoided? Summer time means mosquito time. Instead of becoming a sitting target, ready to be "eaten alive", understand mosquito characteristics and fight back. Some people do seem to be more attractive to mosquitoes than others, but no one really knows why. They seem to prefer males to females and young people to old. Mosquitoes seek out body warmth, moisture and the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath. They are also attracted by odor, including certain compounds found in perspiration. Only a female mosquito bites, needing the amino acids found in human and other animal blood to make the protein for producing her eggs. Protein in a mosquito's saliva causes the itching sensation. All human beings develop a sensitivity to these proteins and recognize them as an "allergen." Fortunately, mosquitoes don't produce the allergic reaction that other insects can. Mosquito saliva may contain bacteria or viruses that cause diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Most of these are rare in this country.
Mosquitoes thrive in water so make your yard less habitable by removing stagnant water from clogged pipes, old tires, birdbaths, and areas where drainage is poor. To prevent bites, avoid spending time outside at dawn or dusk. Wear long-sleeved shirts that fit at wrists, and wear long pants tucked into boots or socks. If it is too hot for long sleeves, protect yourself with insect repellents that contain a substance called DEET. Once bitten, avoid scratching so that the bite will heal faster. Topical preparations that contain antihistamines should be avoided because when applied topically, antihistamines can cause allergic reactions beneath and on the skin. Use plain calamine lotion and/or a cold compress instead. If an infections does develop, contact your physician.
2 Comments
Stephanie Sally
11/8/2024 11:11:17 pm
Hello everyone, I am from Wembley, Britain. I want to write this testimony to tell others and thank Dr. Odunga for what he has done for me. The first 12 years of my marriage I had 5 miscarriages and I was called all sorts of names by my mother-in-law and this my marriage life was very hectic and a burden of sorrow. I contacted Dr. Odunga for help and I will say that he is a very strong and honest man and he indeed helped me solve my problem. I saw his email in a testimony and I contacted him, little did I know it would be the end of all my problems. After 2 days of contact, I received a fertility herb and he told me to use it. The herb worked and my husband even loved me more and bought me expensive things. One afternoon, I went to a nearby hospital and came back home with the positive result of my pregnancy and after 9 months I gave birth to a baby boy. Ever since I contacted Dr. Odunga, my story has been different. I have 3 children at present and I am very happy in my marriage.
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