These bugs are considered as the deadliest animals in the world, which helps to get close to the fact that according to an article in Smithsonian magazine, one million people die every year. This is not because it itches when biting, but mainly because of the diseases spread by biting.
Mosquitoes belong to a family of flies called Culex pipiens. Not all species suck blood, but many blood-sucking species can spread diseases, including West Nile virus and yellow fever. Even mosquitoes without diseases will feel * * * because of saliva, causing allergic reactions and itchy red lumps.
Because mosquitoes hate bites, it's a good idea to keep these insects as far away from them as possible. Fortunately, there are many strategies to do this. [Related Content: How to Fight Mosquitoes]
The life cycle of mosquitoes The control goal of mosquitoes may be to bite adults or kill larvae and eggs of insects. There are four stages in the life cycle of mosquitoes:
Eggs. According to AMCA's research, female mosquitoes lay eggs in water or soil, which will be flooded periodically. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fish and other carnivores make large ponds and streams relatively free of mosquitoes; On the contrary, mosquito hotspots include temporary puddles, tree holes, discarded car tires and truck tires, and potted dishes. Some mosquitoes lay eggs alone, while others lay eggs and float together in as many as 200 rafts. Larvae Crawling Larvae hatch from eggs. They live in water. Some species hang upside down on the water, like stalactites. Others are attached to plants. Larvae breathe through siphon, eat bacteria and algae, and grow and molt for more than four times. Pupa. After molting for the fourth time, mosquitoes enter the pupal stage. It stays in the water, resting and developing. According to AMCA, it will take several days among Culex species common in the southern United States. Generally speaking, the water phase in the life of mosquitoes disappears within a few days to weeks. Adults. After the adult comes out of the pupa stage, it will take a few days to dry its wings and rest. Female adults are responsible for the itching in summer-men don't suck blood. Joseph Conlon, a medical entomologist and technical consultant at AMCA, told NBC News that mosquitoes don't bite you for food because they feed on plant nectar. The female will suck your blood to get the protein needed for egg development. According to the Mayo Clinic, adult female mosquitoes have special mouthparts that can pierce the skin and suck blood. When a mosquito bites you, it will inject saliva into your skin, triggering a mild immune response, which is characterized by itching and the formation of painless lumps.
In a study published in PLoS Neglect of Tropical Diseases on Oct. 8, 2000, researchers from Baylor Medical College in Texas injected mice with human hematopoietic stem cells extracted from umbilical cord, which were later transformed into various types of blood cells, including immune system cells. When mice grow up, they have a perfect "human" immune system. The researchers took a small bottle of mosquitoes to treat each mouse's foot pad. The insect bit each mouse four times. By analyzing the bone marrow, skin and spleen cells of mice, the researchers found that some immune cells remained active even 7 days after the mice were bitten. [The following is the reason why mosquito bites itch for so long]
According to the Mayo Clinic, other common symptoms of mosquito bites include:
A hard, itchy, reddish-brown lump or multiple lumps appeared about one day after biting. Swelling around the wound. Small blisters replace lumps. It looks like a bruised black spot. Jonathan Day, a professor of medical entomology at the University of Florida, said that once you are bitten by a certain mosquito, your body will produce specific antibodies to its saliva. Dai said that this means that the more times you are bitten by mosquitoes, the less you react. Dai said that this is why children are more likely to have obvious bite symptoms than adults. They have little experience in mosquito bites. The child is bitten, and the bite may be swollen and sometimes feel hot.
If you have a particularly strong immune response to mosquito bites and feel uncomfortable, your doctor may suggest that you take oral antihistamines, such as benazepril or clarithromycin. According to "KDSP" and "KDSP" of Mayo Clinic, in rare cases, people may have a systemic allergic reaction to mosquito bites, which is called allergic reaction. According to the regulations of National Institutes of Health (NIH), the symptoms of allergic reaction include: "KDSPE" abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting (high pitch), abnormal breath sounds or wheezing anxiety, chest discomfort or chest tightness, cough or stuffy nose, diarrhea, dyspnea or swallowing dizziness, mild dizziness or unconscious beehive, itching or skin redness, face, eyes or tongue.
There is swelling of speech. If the above symptoms appear after being bitten by mosquitoes or other insects, you should seek medical advice immediately.
Most of the symptoms of mosquito bites will disappear within a few days, and there is no need to seek medical treatment. Cold compress can relieve the itching of the wound.
However, if you still feel uncomfortable with the itching of the wound, you can apply calamine lotion or low-intensity hydrocortisone products-usually cream or spray-directly to the wound. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "KDSP" and "KDSP" calamine are a mixture of zinc and iron oxide, which helps to relieve itching. Hydrocortisone is a steroid that can reduce redness, itching and inflammation. Low-dose therapies containing this steroid can be bought over the counter. Generally speaking, most people can use it safely without a prescription. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you plan to use products containing hydrocortisone for children under 2 years old, you should consult your doctor before using the products. According to the National Eczema Association,
Mosquito-borne diseases Some mosquitoes are called vectors. This means that they can spread diseases from one person or animal to others. When mosquitoes suck the blood of infected people or animals and then continue to bite uninfected people, the disease will spread. According to the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), several diseases are usually spread by mosquitoes in the United States. These include:
West Nile Virus East Horse Encephalitis West Horse Encephalitis St Louis Encephalitis Lacrose (LAC) Encephalitis Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever People who travel abroad and return home and are infected with mosquito-borne diseases can also spread these diseases in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this phenomenon has occurred in Florida and the northeastern United States in recent years. In these places, returning travelers have played a certain role in the spread of Chikungunya virus unique to the Caribbean.
Zika virus is also a recent concern. It is related to the West Nile and is spread by mosquito bites. "Those who really feel uncomfortable may have fever, rash, joint pain and pinkeye (conjunctivitis)," Dr. Robert Arhur, vice president in charge of public health affairs, director and professor of public health, and professor of pediatrics and ophthalmology, told Life Science that these symptoms are usually mild and last only a few days or a week.
The disease can be transmitted from mother to developing baby. "The biggest risk of Zika complications may be newborns," Amler said. Although there is no clear reason to prove it, Brazilian-born mothers have a large number of microcephaly among babies infected with Zika virus during pregnancy, which is a serious birth defect. Zika virus infection may also be related to adult Guillain-Barre syndrome (a severe form of paralysis).
Many mosquito-borne diseases can lead to serious diseases and even death, which is why preventive measures against mosquito transmission are so important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that people with mosquito-borne diseases should avoid mosquito bites, especially in the early stages of the disease. This will help to limit the spread of the disease to others. Each mosquito-borne disease is different and causes unique symptoms, but some common symptoms of these diseases include fever, fatigue, swollen glands, rash, headache and body pain.
Mosquitoes, magnets and mosquitoes are more attractive to some people than others. There are many reasons for this. You can take some measures to stop mosquitoes. The first step is simple: try to relax. Dai said that mosquitoes are more attracted to people who consume a lot of energy. Day said that the increase of carbon dioxide (heavy breathing) and lactic acid (by-products of increased physical activity) attracted mosquitoes to you. KD SPE”“KD SPs People with high metabolic rate will attract more mosquitoes, Dai said. Day said that this is why runners or bodybuilders attract many mosquitoes, while people who move in the backyard don't attract so many mosquitoes.
Besides relaxing, those who want to prevent mosquito bites should put on clothes. Wear long-sleeved trousers and try to cover your skin. Dai said that the technical protective fabric worn by runners or rowers is a good choice for those who want to cover their bodies without overheating.
Besides covering your skin, you can try to avoid the most active habitats of mosquitoes, such as wetlands and forests, because many species go to AMCA at dawn and dusk. But if you need to be outside and mosquitoes are looking for food, you may want to use insect repellent to stop insects from biting you. Dai suggested using a mosquito repellent containing 5% to 7% DEET, a compound that can repel mosquitoes. According to AMCA, at this low concentration, DEET insect repellent usually needs to be reused every 90 minutes or so. It is effective to spray DEET directly on skin or clothes. Day says higher concentrations of DEET can also provide protection for ticks.
"KDSP" If you are worried about using DEET on yourself or your children, you can also use a product containing essential oil, that is, vegetable oil. Several kinds of plant insect repellents are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including a product "insect repellent" containing lemon eucalyptus oil. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (AMCA), there are several other ways to prevent mosquito bites. These include: using a fan to prevent mosquitoes from flying to your side. Light a tasteless citronella candle. Light mosquito-repellent incense or use an electric heater (both contain synthetic pesticides). Use yellow "bug lights" outdoors instead of incandescent bulbs. Knock over an empty bucket, flowerpot, etc. Keep your property away from stagnant water. If you have a swimming pool, please chlorinate it properly. The US Environmental Protection Agency has listed several insecticides that can effectively control mosquitoes. Insect growth inhibitors, such as mirex, prevent larvae from developing into adults. Temephos is a chemical substance that affects the nervous system of insects and can be applied to the stagnant water of mosquitoes. Oil smeared on puddles will also destroy the surface tension that allows eggs and larvae to float. Finally, Bacillus bacteria will destroy the digestive system of insects and eventually starve them to death. When consumers buy mosquito repellent and other mosquito repellent equipment, they should conduct research to ensure that the products they buy can effectively resist these pests. AMCA said that clinical studies have shown that some products, such as ultrasound equipment, which emits high-frequency noise, cannot effectively repel mosquitoes. AMCA said that "KDSP" and "KDSP" mosquito traps often use carbon dioxide or heat to attract annoying insects, but there is little scientific research on their effectiveness. A study in the journal of American Mosquito Control Association 1996 found that citronella candles and aromatherapy can indeed reduce bites under natural conditions, but only 42% and 24% respectively. 20 1 1 A study published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health found that citronella candles only repelled 14% of mosquitoes in indoor tests. The citronella diffuser (which releases a higher concentration of oil) performs slightly better, expelling 22% of female mosquitoes at a distance of 20 feet.
Additional reporting by field science writer Alina Bradford
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Additional resources
The American Mosquito Control Association has a guide to protect yourself from mosquito bites. The CDC provides information about West Nile virus. An article from Harvard University discussed how mosquitoes almost frustrated efforts to build the Panama Canal.