Mosquitoes make their annual appearance when the weather turns warm. You can protect your health by knowing the top warning symptoms to look for if you are bitten by a mosquito this summer.
Large Areas of Redness and Swelling
Mosquito bites typically manifest as small, itchy welts that disappear after a few days. However, if you develop large bites that turn red and swollen, you should seek immediate medical attention. This warning sign could indicate that you have developed an allergic reaction to the bite.
Low-Grade Fever
You also should see your primary care doctor if you develop a low-grade fever after being bitten by a mosquito. A low-grade fever can be a warning sign of an infection developing below your skin. It could also be the onset of West Nile virus, a serious but treatable illness carried by mosquitoes.
Hives
The onset of hives indicates that you are developing an allergic reaction to the mosquito’s venom. You should see your doctor so that you can be given antihistamines that will reverse the reaction and also relieve the bothersome itching that comes with hives.
Vomiting and Body Aches
If you vomit or suffer from body aches after being bitten by a mosquito, you should seek treatment from your primary care doctor or the emergency room promptly. Vomiting and body aches are two of the most common symptoms of West Nile virus.
Your doctor can provide intravenous fluids and pain medications to relieve your symptoms. You should also remain under your doctor’s care until the virus subsides.
Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is easy if you take some basic precautions. You first should spray yourself with a high-quality mosquito repellent. You also can wear citronella bracelets that you can buy at most grocery stores during the summer.
You also should avoid overgrown yards, open bodies of water like stagnant ponds or bird baths, and dense brush. Mosquitoes take shelter in overgrown vegetation and will lay their eggs in bird baths, kiddie pools, ponds, and in other containers of water.
Mosquitoes are far from benign pests that you must put up with during the summertime. These insects spread diseases like West Nile and the Zika virus. If you are bitten by a mosquito that carries one of these illnesses, you could spend months recovering from symptoms that make living out your daily routine difficult if not impossible.
Mosquitoes start making their appearance when summer approaches. You can keep them at bay by keeping your lawn and vegetation trimmed and also by emptying water in pools, bird baths, and other containers. You should also contact pest extermination professionals like MosquitoNix Charleston for all of your mosquito control needs today.