Mosquito Bite Relief: Home Remedies, Treatment, and Prevention

Mosquito bites cause pruritic wheals via salivary proteins. Most are benign; some transmit disease (malaria, dengue, Zika, West Nile).

Immediate Relief

1. Wash: Soap and water; reduces infection risk.
2. Cold: Ice pack/compress 10–15 min; reduces histamine release, numbs nerves.
3. Topical: Calamine, hydrocortisone 1%, pramoxine, menthol, colloidal oatmeal paste.
4. Oral antihistamine: Cetirizine, loratadine (day); diphenhydramine (night).
5. Don't scratch: Prevents excoriation, infection, scarring. Tapping/pressure substitutes.

Infection Signs → See Doctor

• Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, red streaks
• Fever, chills

Prevention

• Repellents: DEET 20–30%, picaridin 20%, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE/PMD). EPA-registered.
• Clothing: Long sleeves/pants; permethrin-treated fabric.
• Environmental: Eliminate standing water; screens; fans (mosquitoes weak fliers).
• Timing: Peak activity dawn/dusk.

Special Populations

• Children <2 months: no DEET; use nets/clothing.
• Pregnancy: DEET/picaridin safe per CDC; Zika risk areas → strict prevention.
• Travel: prophylaxis for malaria; vaccines (JE, yellow fever) if endemic.