Also known as “skeeter syndrome,” this inflammatory reaction is pretty rare. For those who are allergic to mosquitoes, however, it can have a big impact on their ability to enjoy the outdoors. Intense itching can even end up causing a skin infection.
This article looks at mosquito bite allergy, its symptoms, and risk factors. It also looks at the diagnosis and treatment of mosquito bite allergy and some of the things you can do to prevent mosquito bites.
Symptoms of Mosquito Bite Allergy
Most people have a variety of responses to mosquito bites. The symptoms may even change over time. For example, they may happen less often if you are bitten many times over many years.
These reactions can include:
Immediate or delayed swellingItch around the bite areaBleeding or oozing if scratched
If you have these reactions, you probably don’t have a mosquito bite allergy. The term allergy is reserved for people with more severe or unusual responses.
When allergic reactions happen, they can cause:
Large areas of swelling at the bite site Blistering rashes Bruises Welts Low-grade fever Swollen lymph nodes
These reactions tend to occur in the first few hours after the bite.
Some people have vast areas of swelling after a mosquito bite. For example, the swelling might include most of an arm or leg.
Mosquito bites can also become infected, typically because of scratching to ease discomfort. Signs of infection include redness and warmth at the bite site. If you have any of these symptoms, see a healthcare provider.
Skeeter syndrome itself isn’t life-threatening and does not cause long-term problems, but a skin infection should be dealt with promptly.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis, the most severe type of allergic reaction, is a very rare reaction to a mosquito bite. It requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
Difficulty breathing Wheezing Swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat Red welts or bumps on the skin called urticaria or hives Feeling faint or light-headed
Other people may have whole-body hives and swelling (angioedema). In addition, people with asthma may experience worsening asthma symptoms after being bitten.
These severe mosquito bite allergy symptoms typically occur within minutes after a mosquito bite, but they can take hours to appear.
Causes and Risk Factors
Only the female mosquito feeds on humans for a blood meal to produce eggs. They can detect the carbon dioxide in the air that humans exhale. They are also attracted to the odors in human sweat. This is what helps them find people to bite.
When the mosquito feeds, it pierces your skin and injects saliva. If you have skeeter syndrome, your body incorrectly views proteins in that saliva as harmful and the immune system responds in kind, resulting in an allergic reaction.
You’re obviously more at risk for a bite if you’re in an environment that is conducive to mosquito breeding. This happens once temperatures are regularly above 50 and ideally 70 degrees. The warmer and wetter the area, the more active the mosquitoes.
Those who may be at higher risk for an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite include:
People who work outside or frequently exercise outdoors Young children People not previously exposed to the local mosquito type People who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV or cancer
Diagnosing Mosquito Bite Allergy
If you have had a severe reaction to a mosquito bite it is important to see an allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergic conditions like this.
Diagnosing a mosquito bite allergy is based on a positive skin test, or radioallergosorbent test (RAST). This test purposefully exposes you to an extract made from the bodies of mosquitoes to see if you have a reaction.
Testing is only considered necessary for people who have a history of severe reactions. People who get the typical small, red, itchy bumps after being bitten by a mosquito do not need a test.
Unfortunately, mosquito bite allergy testing can only identify 30% to 50% of true mosquito bite allergies.
If you are diagnosed with a mosquito bite allergy, your allergist can develop a treatment plan and/or prescribe medication that can protect you in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
Treatments
Treatment for mosquito bite allergy is focused on treating the bothersome symptoms of local reactions and, if applicable, working to mitigate the potential for and extent of severe reactions.
It also involves establishing a plan to treat life-threatening body-wide reactions, should they occur.
Easing Local Reactions
A local reaction is confined to one part of the body. There are many ways to treat localized reactions at home. These include:
Topical corticosteroids like hydrocortisone cream Oral antihistamines Applying ice to reduce swelling, redness, and soothe the itch Elevation to reduce swelling Applying cooked oatmeal to reduce itching and swelling Calamine lotion to help soothe the itch
When taken before a bite, Zyrtec (cetirizine) has been shown to reduce local reactions to mosquito bites. Similarly, daily Claritin (loratadine) may help reduce reactions in children.
Taking one of these medications every day during prime mosquito months may help people with skeeter syndrome. However, any medication can have side effects, so be sure to ask your doctor before you decide to try this.
Allergy Shots
Severe cases of skeeter syndrome may benefit from immunotherapy, a form of allergy treatment where you receive shots containing small amounts of the allergen.
The goal of this treatment is to help your body get used to the allergen so you’ll no longer be sensitive to it. Over time, it can improve your symptoms.
There is some evidence that allergy shots may reduce severe reactions to mosquito bites. However, at this time they are not a widely accepted treatment for any type of mosquito bite allergy. This is mostly because the research is limited and the treatment isn’t standardized.
Epinephrine for Anaphylaxis
Your practitioner may recommend carrying an EpiPen, which contains a manmade version of the stress hormone epinephrine.
Healthcare providers often prescribe this injectable medication for people who have a history of severe allergies. When given, epinephrine can stop symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Always call 911 after using an EpiPen. Emergency medical personnel will decide if you need a second dose.
Prevention
Preventing mosquito bites is the best strategy for those with mosquito bite allergies.
When you are planning to be outdoors, consider the following measures:
Try not to be outside at dusk or dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Avoid swampy and tall grassy areas. Remove or treat areas of standing water (e. g. , birdbaths). Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Avoid wearing perfumes and scented lotions. Apply mosquito-repellant containing DEET (N, N-dimethyl-3-methyl-benzamide). Treat clothing, camping tents, and other fabric with the insecticide permethrin (do not apply directly to the skin). Limit strenuous exercise and sweating during peak mosquito times.
You can safely use DEET in concentrations of 10% to 30% on children older than 2 months of age. Note that repellents can cause side effects, including eye irritation, dry skin, rash, and possible allergic reaction. Use the lowest concentration that works for you and reapply as needed.
Methods to Avoid
Some methods for repelling mosquitoes aren’t effective. Bug zappers, for example, don’t work well on mosquitoes because mosquitoes will always be more attracted to bodies than to bug zappers.
Mosquito repelling wristbands are also not very effective. That is because they only keep mosquitoes away from your wrist and not your whole body.
There are a few smartphone apps that claim to repel mosquitoes. Unfortunately, there isn’t much evidence that these are effective.
When It May Not Be an Allergic Reaction
There are many reasons to avoid mosquito bites, whether or not you have an allergy. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including:
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) Malaria West Nile virus Yellow fever Zika virus
Some illnesses are uncommon in the U.S., while other mosquito-borne diseases may occur anywhere there are mosquitoes.
These illnesses can cause symptoms like:
Fever and chillsJoint painHeadacheNausea and vomitingAbdominal painStiff neckMuscle weaknessConfusionMuscle aches
If you experience any of the above after having been bitten, be sure to see a healthcare provider right away.
Summary
An allergy to mosquito bites is called “skeeter syndrome.” If you have skeeter syndrome, you may experience blistering rashes, bruising, and large areas of swelling. In addition, some people may develop anaphylaxis, the most severe type of allergic reaction.
You can treat mosquito allergies with antihistamines, topical creams, allergy shots, and an EpiPen in severe cases.
People with skeeter syndrome should also avoid mosquito-infested areas, wear long sleeves and repellent, and avoid activities like exercise that may attract mosquitoes.
