Mosquito Bite Reactions

Updated on August 22, 2011
C.S. asks from Racine, WI
11 answers

My 18mo old daughter seems to have a fairly severe reaction to mos bites- she gets bit and over a 24 period the bite swells to the size of a quarter-
It doesn't bother her however.

We are using hydrocortizone cream and benadryl at night.

Any other sugesstions- it takes over two weeks for the swelling and bite to disappear.

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S.C.

answers from Eau Claire on

My son has the same reaction to mosquito bites. No matter how hard you try to prevent them there is no perfect system so I have been looking for years for better ways to treat it. I have tried all the creams and lotions, alergy meds, and stuff we used when we were kids but it didn't seem to help much. This year I heard a weird suggestion that I tried and it works much better and is easy. Rub antiperspirant on it. I was shocked when I heard it but there is something in antiperspirant that causes it to stop itching and promotes healing faster. I almost always have some deoderant/antipersirant on me so as soon as I see a bite on him I rub some on and the bites don't seem to swell as much. They go away in a couple of days verses the week or so that it used to take and he doesn't get all groggy from the benadryl. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

My son also has fairly severe allergic reactions to bug bites. A couple years ago, something bit him on his hand (not a sting) and it swelled up. We took him in to the doctor, and realized he was actually having a systemic reaction--he will get swollen glands, and be cranky, and act like he has allergies and feels yucky--because he DOES. He is more allergic to bug bites than some people. Since we live in northern MN, mosquitoes are a way of life. When he gets so many bug bites that putting on hydrocortizone is a little ridiculous, we dose him up with children's Claritin. It seems to take the itch out of the bites and start healing them, so at least we have a clean slate. I would say I do this maybe once or twice a summer--in the early summer, usually. If they're not bothering her, I wouldn't do anything--she's only 18 months, after all. But, later on, they well might bother her more, and when they do, it's not unreasonable to use a liquid, system-based allergy med. If she's too young, I would check with your doc for dosage, though.

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L.Z.

answers from Bismarck on

Our son swells up from mosquito bites as well. His dad is the same way. I use Afterbite for Kids. It has baking soda in it and works wonders for the itch and swelling. I've found that if I get it on the bite right away there is much less swelling. You can put it on as often as you want without worry because it's just baking soda. It can still take awhile for the bite to disappear completely but it doesn't seem to itch much after the first few days and the swelling is gone.

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I have recently read that people who attract mosquito bites are people who have allergies. Thus, those who get bit by them, get stronger reactions to the bites. My 2 year olds eye swelled shut this summer and his bites get really swollen, white and red and some ooze. It's terrible. It could also be our super mosquitoes here in WI ;)

During the day we use Benadryl cream and the liquid at night. You are not supposed to use both at the same time though.

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W.R.

answers from Norfolk on

I react like that. I've never put anything on the bites, and they go away in a day or two with no ill effects. My daughter seems to react like that too. I figured we were just more sensitive to mosquitoes. Unfortunately, we also seem to attract mosquitoes!

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I am allergic to mosquito bites. It's awful. I've ended up on antibiotics for them before. Mine swell up to the size of a baseball (or larger) and they last for about 3-4 weeks. I have used benadryl, benadryl spray, aveeno itch cream. Nothing seems to really work for the itch, but when it gets really hot and tender, I will put some ice on it to cool it down.

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J.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Young kids often have exaggerated skin reactions to mosquito bites - so said our pediatrician when my oldest had a mosquito bite on his face that swelled up to the size of a baseball. He's 7 now and while mosquitoes still think he's delicious, he has a "normal" response to the bites now. As long as the bite isn't infected, it's fine.

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B.L.

answers from Boston on

My 2 1/2 yo son reacts kind of like that. First the bites swell up to about quarter sized, then they flatten out and some turn a dark red, almost bruise-like. That slowly fades over about 2 weeks. They don't seem to bother him more than average for a mosquito bite though. We put cortizone on them if he says they itch, but other than that, we haven't been treating them.

E.S.

answers from Dayton on

My DS (15 months) got eaten up last Wednesday in two areas.
His neck-about 6 bites.
And his leg-about 5 bites.

I put him in the tub the next day w/ a few drops of tea tree oil and a packet of bath salts. Healing (Dead Sea) bath salts, not just smelly stuff. (I actually bought them to use after I gave birth.)
I tried to google the brand...but there are way more than I expected.
Anyhoo...I would imagine Epsom salt would work too.

His leg: the swelling/redness virtually disappeared. The ones on his neck (which obviously weren't submerged) are still as big and red as last week!

Hope your little girl feels better soon!

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C.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

My husband and two of my children react the same way. We mix water and baking soda. We mix it so it isn't quite as thick as a paste. It draws the stuff out, stops the itching and brings down the swelling

M.S.

answers from Omaha on

Make sure it isn't a spider bite. My husband was bit by a "mosquito" that turned out to be a spider bite. It was awful. Kept getting bigger and bigger then started to drain. I won't go into details about it. But keep an eye on it. Put alcohol on it.

Also try this link:
http://www.grandmashomeremedies.com/home-remedies-for-mos...

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