Whether at the local swimming lake, at a barbecue with friends or on vacation – mosquito bites can really spoil the beautiful summer days. But why do mosquitoes actually bite? When are they particularly active? And what diseases can be transmitted by mosquito bites?
Mosquitoes normally feed on plant juices. However, female mosquitoes need a protein-rich diet to form and grow their eggs – which is why they need to suck blood regularly.
Mosquitoes are attracted to human exhalations such as sweat or breath (carbon dioxide). However, the decomposition products produced when sweat is broken down on the skin are different for everyone. The amount of exhaled carbon dioxide also differs. This explains why some people are stung more often than others.
This depends on the type of mosquito: while black flies and horseflies are active during the day, the common mosquito and the malaria mosquito are most active in the evening and at night. Although the yellow fever mosquito is mainly active during the day, it can also catch you at night. The Asian tiger mosquito is an extremely aggressive mosquito that bites both at dusk and during the day.
So that the mosquito can suck blood “in peace”, it releases a secretion when it bites, which inhibits blood clotting and has a local anaesthetic effect. The insect saliva triggers a defense reaction of the immune system: The body releases the messenger substance histamine, which causes the affected area to swell, redden and itch. If the affected person scratches the mosquito bite, an infection can easily occur and the bite can become inflamed.
Globalization and climate change are encouraging the spread of tropical mosquitoes in parts of Europe. The Asian tiger mosquito, for example, is already established in Italy, southern France and southern Spain. In Germany, too, mosquitoes that are originally native to exotic countries and can transmit dengue, chikungunya, zika viruses and other pathogens have been detected again and again in recent years. The Federal Environment Agency currently estimates the risk of infection with tropical pathogens in Germany to be extremely low. However, as the pathogens can also spread here through infected travelers, infection cannot be completely ruled out.
When biting, pathogens can be transmitted via the sting, which the mosquito has previously “picked up”, for example when landing on dog excrement, horse manure or a cow dung. However, as the disease is relatively rare in this country, it is assumed that the immune system of healthy people can cope well with the probably small number of pathogens. The situation is quite different with tropical mosquitoes. They often carry dangerous pathogens which they transmit to humans when they bite. This can trigger serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika or dengue fever.
Mosquitoes are like tourists in the Verzasca Valley. They feel particularly at home in standing water. For mosquitoes, however, these are not idyllic river basins in Ticino, but ponds, rain barrels and swamps all over Switzerland. The mosquitoes are also pleased that our winters are becoming less and less serious: Spring and fall last longer, they can now survive the winter better and this of course helps the population numbers enormously.
Mosquito sprays with the active ingredients DEET, Icaridin or Eucalyptus Citriodora oil offer reliable protection. They are applied to uncovered areas of skin. The right clothing and personal hygiene (mosquitoes are attracted to human sweat) offer additional protection. Further protective measures are usually necessary, especially in the tropics.
Normally, small, itchy wheals develop after a mosquito bite. However, some people may develop large wheals and redness at the site of the bite. It is then reasonable to suspect that it could be an allergy to mosquito bites. However, genuine allergic reactions to mosquito saliva are rare, in contrast to allergies to bee and wasp venom. If you notice that mosquito bites trigger noticeable skin reactions, you should consult a doctor if in doubt – and protect yourself against the bites of the blood-sucking pests.
In Europe, mosquito bites are annoying and unpleasant, but generally harmless. If you experience unusually severe swelling or fever, you should consult your doctor. This also applies if a mosquito bite becomes infected. If unclear symptoms occur after long-distance travel, a visit to the doctor is always necessary to have the possible causes clarified quickly.
To reduce the skin reactions somewhat, it is recommended to treat the bite site with localized heat for a few seconds. This is intended to destroy the proteins in the mosquito saliva that trigger the body’s defense reaction and inhibit the transmission of itching to the brain. Cooling applications can then be used to relieve the itching. Important: Do not scratch! Otherwise the wound can become infected and inflamed – the healing process is delayed.
The kik AFTER BITE Cooling Roll-on soothes and cools irritated skin after insect bites, contact with stinging nettles or jellyfish – ideal for the care of irritated and reddened skin areas.
Fast and convenient supply
Fast and convenient supply
