Mosquito bites in kids are more likely to occur than in adults because children tend to be more active outdoors. While mosquito bites are usually mild and heal in a few hours, or sometimes days, they can be itchy, painful, and uncomfortable for your child. This can make your child fussy and hinder their playtime.
Also, mosquitoes carry several pathogens that can lead to allergic reactions or various illnesses such as dengue and malaria. But don’t worry, you do not have to cut down on your child’s outdoor playtime for these irritating mosquito bites. Just follow some effective tips to treat the bites and certain precautionary steps to keep them protected against these bites in the first place.
Common Symptoms Of Mosquito Bites In Children
When a mosquito punctures the skin to suck blood, it mixes its saliva into our bloodstream. The chemicals present in the mosquito’s saliva prevent the blood from clotting and cause an immune response that leads to itching and redness. Some other common symptoms of mosquito bites include:
- Itchy and irritated skin
- Red bumps (a raised area where the mosquito has bitten): Itchy, red bumps that appear hours after a mosquito bite and may last for a few days.
- Swelling: In some cases, children between the ages of one to five years may experience swelling in their skin that is large and appears pink in colour. This symptom may last for a couple of days as well.
6 Ways To Treat Mosquito Bites In Children
Applying An Ice Pack To The Affected Area
Mosquito bites can make the skin tender and cause the affected area to become warm. An ice pack can help provide relief in this case. Make sure to use no more than one ice cube on your child’s skin. Also, give breaks while the application prevents your little one from getting chilly.
Using Calamine Lotion
This lotion is safe for first-aid for mosquito bites. Calamine lotion offers a cooling effect that soothes irritated skin and makes your child less prone to itching. Before applying, clean the skin with a natural foaming wash, pat dry the skin, and then apply the lotion.
Cleaning The Affected Areas And Keeping Them Well-ventilated
Cleaning the mosquito bite areas with soap and water can also help soothe the skin and reduce itching. Also, make the affected areas open as sweat or heat congestion can further irritate the mosquito bite and cause more itchiness.
Applying Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, applying aloe vera gel directly to the site of the mosquito bite can help reduce the swelling and itchiness.
Using An After-bite Roll-on
You can also use a natural after-bite roll-on on your child’s skin. Opt for an after-bite roll-on with ingredients like lavender oil, chamomile oil, calendula oil, coconut oil, and peppermint oil, as they are effective antioxidants that help calm redness, soothe inflammation, and reduce discomfort caused by swelling. Just use the roll-on applicator to apply it to your child’s skin to reduce swelling and redness.
Dabbing Vinegar To The Affected Area
This is another helpful remedy that you can try. Vinegar has natural disinfectant properties that work against skin irritation and swelling. Use a washcloth dipped in cold water and vinegar solution and apply to affected areas for relief.
How To Prevent Mosquito Bites In Kids
- Install window screens with mosquito nets in your home: Use window screens with mosquito nets to cover up open spaces. For warmer areas, window screens with mesh are a good idea as it doesn’t let the airflow into the room.
- Dress your child in protective clothing: Before sending your child to play outdoors, make sure you dress them up appropriately. If possible, dress them in lighter colours such as green and yellow. This is because certain studies have established that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours such as red, blue, and black. Also, dress them up in full-sleeved clothing for added protection.
- Use a natural mosquito and insect repellent body spray: To make your child’s playtime fun and carefree, you can consider investing in a natural mosquito and insect body repellent spray. Opt for a mosquito repellent with ingredients like lemon grass, tulsi, and neem leaf, as they are renowned for repelling mosquitoes effectively and keeping the skin hydrated. Just spray the repellent all over your child’s body and then dress them up in appropriate clothing.
- Prevent water stagnation around your home: If you live in an area where water gets easily stagnated, make arrangements to drain it immediately. Mosquitoes breed in stagnated water, especially during the rainy season. Therefore, you should prevent water stagnation near your home and keep the water tanks tightly shut to prevent the entry of mosquitoes.
- Use natural mosquito repellent patches before sending your child outdoors: Besides using a mosquito repellent body spray, you can also try mosquito repellent patches to protect your little ones from insect bites. Opt for a natural mosquito repellent patch that offers long hours of protection, is waterproof, and is made with natural ingredients like citronella oil and lemongrass oil, which have excellent repellent properties. Put one of the patches on your child’s clothing to get effective protection against mosquito bites.
Mosquito bites are relatively harmless, but they can cause discomfort, redness, and inflammation in your child’s skin. Therefore, protecting your child’s skin is the best defense. Make sure to dress them in appropriate clothing and use mosquito repellent sprays and patches to repel insects. In case your child gets a bite, use an after-bite roll-on to provide relief to their irritated skin.
