Most mosquito bites are harmless, but bites from mosquitoes carrying certain viruses or parasites can cause severe illness. Infected mosquitoes in many parts of the world transmit West Nile virus to humans, or yellow fever, malaria or some types of brain infection (encephalitis). There is no such threat in Hungary. However, they may survive on the plane flying in from infected areas.

Most people never notice their first mosquito bites. After being bitten several times, though, you’re likely to start noticing, often almost immediately after the mosquito feeds.

The signs include:

A puffy, white bump that appears a few minutes after the bite
A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps, appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
Swelling around bites
Small blisters instead of hard bumps
Dark spots that look like bruises

In children and people with immune system disorders, mosquito bites sometimes trigger:

A large area of swelling and redness
Low-grade fever
Hives
Swollen lymph nodes

When to see a doctor

If mosquito bites seem to be associated with more serious signs and symptoms — such as fever, headache and body aches — contact your doctor.

Prevention

You can take a number of steps to limit your exposure to mosquitoes and protect yourself from bites when mosquitoes are unavoidable.

- Use insect repellent

- Wear protective clothing. When you’re in an area with lots of mosquitoes, wear:

Long sleeves
Socks
Long pants, possibly tucked into the tops of your socks
Light colors
A wide-brimmed hat to help protect your ears and the back of your neck

- Reduce mosquitoes around your home. Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. To keep your house and yard free of mosquito pools:

Unclog roof gutters.
Empty children’s wading pools at least once a week, and preferably more often.
Change water in birdbaths at least weekly.
Drain a fire pit if water collects there.

Source:  mayoclinic.org

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