Mosquito Bite Symptoms: What To Look For

Ahhhh, summer. Nothing is better than the warm sunny season and all the joy that it brings. From beach days with the kids and picnics at the park to backyard barbecues and parties by the pool, the summertime is nothing short of amazing. 

That being said, while there’s really not too much we can complain about, if we had the ability to change one itty-bitty thing about the best season of the year, it would be all the icky pests that love the warm weather, too — like mosquitos. 

Mother Nature’s biggest nuisance, the bloodsucking bothers, can quickly turn a memorable day into a terrible one in a matter of seconds. Whether they’re buzzing in your ear or biting at your arm, this summer-lovin’ insect is one we could all do without. 

For most of us, when a mosquito bites our flesh, it leaves behind a red itchy bump that usually goes away in a day or two. Not too terrible, right? For some unfortunate souls, however, mosquito bites are like the kiss of death, resulting in a painful welt that’s not only super itchy but incredibly uncomfortable, too.

Allergy Awareness

Known as skeeter syndrome, those with severe allergies to mosquito bites tend to experience symptoms that are much more than just annoying. In fact, they can be serious. And the worse part? Because our precious tiny tots are so young and haven’t built up immunity just yet, they are more likely to be affected by skeeter syndrome than adults.  

And you know what that means, don’t you? Lots of tears. 

Regardless of how wonderful the warm sunny season is, there’s nothing worse than watching our poor babies cry in pain due to a bug bite: they simply can’t handle the itch, day or night. And for some little ones, the allergic reaction is so horrible that they can even develop a fear of going outside just to avoid getting bitten.

For us mama bears on a mission to instill healthy habits and a love for nature, the last thing we want is for our kids to resent playing in the sun. After all, there are so many incredible benefits of outdoor play.

That’s why it’s so important to keep an eye out for mosquito bite symptoms because if you can catch them early, you’ll have a better chance of preventing a bad bug bite from turning into a horrible bug bite. 

Interested in learning more? The Natural Patch Co. has your back. Read on to discover everything you need to know about mosquito bite symptoms and how to relieve the itch faster than you can pull your child away from an open flame (so pretty fast)!

“Don’t Touch It And STOP Scratching It!” 

Just like how we need to remind our little monsters to wash their hands and to get their fingers out of their nose… when a mosquito attacks and leaves behind an itchy bite, reminding our kids not to scratch becomes the norm until the pesky red bump finally decides to go away. 

Why is it so important to tell our kids not to scratch a mosquito bite, you ask? Well, other than the fact that scratching can cause a bite to itch even more, touching the inflamed wound with dirty hands that just got done making mud pies in the backyard can quickly lead to an infection. 

That being said, while a mild infection is definitely bad news bears, it’s not the only thing we should be worried about after our tiny tot gets bitten by a mosquito. 

What Is Skeeter Syndrome? 

Simply put, skeeter syndrome is an allergy to mosquito saliva. This reaction can present with extreme swelling, itching, fever, blistering, and in some cases, anaphylactic shock, cellulitis, and asthma. 

Most people tend to experience a slight allergic reaction from the pesky little bloodsuckers, with itching and redness being the norm. Those who suffer from skeeter syndrome, however, experience a very extreme reaction. 

Similar to a bee sting allergy, the symptoms of skeeter syndrome can be so severe that the affected limb doubles in size, eyes swell shut, and the area feels hot to the touch. Additionally, some bites may turn into a painful blister that oozes — we know, kind of gross, but it’s true.

While the unfavorable syndrome can affect people of all ages, it’s our youngsters who are commonly affected. 

Is It Skeeter Syndrome or Just a Bad Bug Bite? 

Trust us: if your little one has skeeter syndrome, you’ll be able to tell right away. Why? Because the symptoms associated with the syndrome are pretty difficult to miss.

Here’s what to look for:

• Fever. A low-grade fever is really common with allergic reactions as it’s the body’s way of fighting off an infection. 

• Swollen lymph nodes. If your favorite mini-human has a mosquito allergy, their lymphatic system may become inflamed, causing the lymph nodes to swell. 

• Bigger bump. A normal mosquito bite can trigger swelling and redness that peaks after roughly 20 minutes, followed by a small itchy bump that’s usually no bigger than two centimeters in diameter. 
  
  If a child has skeeter syndrome, on the other hand, the bump is bigger and lasts longer. These itchy welts can swell from two to ten centimeters in diameter within an hour of the bite. 

• Bruising. Another symptom associated with skeeter syndrome is bruising around the affected area. 

• Hives. In some cases, your kiddo may develop hives if they have a mosquito allergy. 

• Extreme swelling. As mentioned earlier, with skeeter syndrome, swelling could take over an entire body part. If this happens, seek medical attention immediately. 

What Causes Skeeter Syndrome?

The short answer? Mosquito spit. 

We’ll explain:

When a skeeter lands on flesh, it will quickly insert its needle-like mouthpart directly into the skin. Since human blood is a little too thick for the mean old bug to siphon, the icky insect first injects a thinning agent into the victim. It is this thinning agent (mosquito saliva) that causes the allergic reaction. 

Once the bug flies away, the body instantly goes into action and reacts to the foreign substance by producing histamines, which cause the nerves around the bite to itch due to increased blood flow. When too much histamine is released, however, the affected area can swell up and turn red in addition to non-stop itching. 

For those with skeeter syndrome, the body reacts much more severely to the foreign substance, and in some cases, emergency medical care is required.

What’s the Best Way To Combat Skeeter Syndrome? 

The moment you notice an itchy bug bite on your little one, we suggest using one of our Magic Patches immediately. These incredible itch relief patches work by gently lifting the skin to help the lymphatic system drain the mosquito’s itchy saliva.

Plant-based and chemical-free, all you have to do is apply a Magic Patch onto the bug bite (just like a bandage), and your child should feel relief in as little as 60 seconds. 

While Magic Patch is an excellent way to help provide relief from an itchy skeeter bite, at the end of the day — prevention is key! To avoid the horrible symptoms associated with skeeter syndrome, we recommend our all-natural mosquito repellent patches, BuzzPatch.

Designed with you and your kids in mind, our chemical-free BuzzPatch Mosquito Patches are truly one of a kind. Infused with kid-friendly essential oils to hide your kiddos from the biting bug’s senses, with BuzzPatch, you can finally say goodbye to mosquitos — the natural way!

The Mama Bear Response 

So, what mosquito bite symptoms should you look for?

When your child gets bitten by a mosquito, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for skeeter syndrome symptoms, such as fever, extreme swelling, and bruising, so that you can react quickly in the event of an emergency. If the symptoms persist, seek medical advice as soon as possible. 

Mosquitoes suck — literally. Thankfully, we have BuzzPatch, a scientifically formulated and tested blend of highly effective all-natural essential oils that have been used for hundreds of years to repel hungry skeeters. 

We want to shield our little ones from as many of the world’s harmful chemicals as we can. Buzzpatch is the world’s #1 plant-based, non-spray shield to protect you and your family against itchy bug bites. Our fun and powerful stickers have become the world leader in safe, natural, effective mosquito repellents.

Check us out today and see for yourself why our mosquito repellent patches have gotten a whole lot of buzz. As mothers, we can call on the powers of Mother Nature to create a natural way to keep mozzies away! 

Sources:

Mosquito Information for Kids: Mosquito Facts for Kids | Pest World For Kids

Mosquito bites - Diagnosis and treatment | Mayo Clinic

Skeeter syndrome | The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 

Top 5 benefits of children playing outside | Sanford Health