More Mosquito Madness

As the deadliest animal on Earth, as it pertains to humans, the tiny mosquito doesn't seem to have any inherent malice in its DNA, it just likes blood. And whose blood they like the most comes down to many factors, and some people are "mosquito magnets."

I've known all this (especially the mosquito magnet part as my wife's blood seems to be considered sweet nectar to them), and I've known of about the many diseases they can transmit. Malaria, chikungunya, and dengue fever are some of the more dangerous ones that are mostly seen in other parts of the world*, while West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are both problematic here in New England. 

But what I didn't know is that, beyond the diseases they can spread, mosquitos can also induce anaphylactic reactions.

Again, ignoring the potential for acquiring a disease (admittedly low in New England, but not zero), most mosquito bites cause minor allergic reactions, with localized itching. However, in some, and perhaps based on the number of "bites" (not really a "bite," they stick their needle-like proboscises into your skin, locate a blood vessel and suck out blood while also injecting some saliva to prevent clotting) a more serious reaction can occur.

UpToDate describes the normal reaction to mosquito saliva:

Normal immune responses — The typical clinical course of sensitization and natural desensitization to mosquito salivary allergens was described initially in the 1940s. Five stages are identified, which evolve over months or years in an individual. People who have never been exposed to a particular species of mosquito do not develop reactions to the initial bites from such mosquitoes. Subsequent bites result in the appearance of delayed local skin reactions. After repeated bites, immediate wheals develop. With further exposure, the delayed local reactions wane and eventually disappear, although the immediate reactions persist. People who are repeatedly exposed to bites from the same species of mosquito eventually also lose their immediate reactions. The duration of each of these five different stages differs, depending on the intensity and timing of mosquito exposure. Not all patients progress through these stages even with repeated bites. These typical reactions are annoying but not dangerous. 

So those annoying itchy bumps are an immune reaction to the their saliva. Some people can develop a "large local reaction," which is a fancy medical term for a local reaction that is larger than normal. Still red and itchy, but up to 10cm in diameter. 

All of these reactions are all typically treated with an antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), or fexofenadine (Allegra). 

Beyond this, a person can have a more systemic response, with itchy hives popping up everywhere, and  some will develop an anaphylactic reaction. 

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Diffuse hives
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Voice changes
• Feelings of throat or tongue swelling

Anaphylaxis can be fatal and needs to be treated with epinephrine (EpiPen or Neffy).

Refresh your memory on what we've previously posted about mosquitoes here.

The TL/DR version of this is that mosquito bites can cause anaphylaxis. A month ago I wouldn't have thought this was true, but after seeing this first hand, now I know.

*Yes, cases of Malaria, Zika, Dengue, and chikungunya HAVE been contracted in the US, but don't worry, it's not as if our climate is getting warmer and more tropical diseases will make there way further into the US, right?

Please note--I didn't have any good mosquito pics, so these were AI generated, but all the content came from my little brain.

Please remember, the information presented here, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.