Monsoon is the breeding season for mosquitoes, and they most often attack while you are sleeping at night. Everyone needs a good night’s sleep after a strenuous day, but the buzzing of mosquitoes in the ear all through the night does not allow one to sleep peacefully. Knowing how to avoid mosquito bites is necessary to steer clear of diseases such as dengue, malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Little do people know that only female mosquitoes bite when they want to reproduce, and the male mosquitoes survive on flower nectar. These female mosquitoes bite and a person become victim to several severe diseases.
To avoid getting bit by these mosquitoes, keep in mind the following tips, and you might lower the risk of developing the diseases mentioned above.
Do Not Scratch
We know that a mosquito bite leaves an itch behind, and you might be tempted to scratch it for relief, but you should not. When a mosquito pierces the skin with its saliva, our immune system reacts to it by releasing a chemical known as histamine. Histamine is the reason why we feel the urge to scratch in the first place, and this is what makes them swell or create a bump. Scratching can break your skin allowing the bacteria to get in your body and lead to bacterial infections. Instead of scratching, rub the itchy area with the palm of your hand or massage the area bitten with ice.
How to Avoid Mosquitoes
The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is by taking proper precautions to avoid the development of diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and zika. Here are some tips on how you can avoid a mosquito bite:
- Mornings and evening are the times when mosquitoes like Aedes (transmits dengue) bite, make sure that you cover yourselves with appropriate clothing. The best way to protect yourselves from a mosquito bite is by covering the exposed skin
- Clean the vents and your bathrooms regularly to avoid the mosquitoes breeding in the dirty areas. Also, empty all the buckets filled with stagnant water
- Avoid lotions, soaps and shampoos that smell sweet as mosquitoes breed on flowers when not reproducing.
- Taking too many antibiotics should be avoided during monsoon season
- Do not sleep in the open and use mosquito nets, repellents and creams to avoid getting bitten. If you find any holes in the net, spray repellent on those areas
- Drink boiled water
- Burn mosquito coils in the house but do not burn them in enclosed areas
- Try and remain clean all day long. Chemicals found in sweat attracts mosquitoes, so keeping yourself clean will help them avoid them and kill their game
- Mosquitoes fly closer to the ground to see the colours reflecting against the background. They quickly detect dark colours like black and blue as compared to light coloured clothes
- Mosquitoes are not very strong and keeping air circulated with fans to make it difficult for them to fly near you
Finally, there is a ton you can do to avoid mosquito bites. These tips can help you avoid sleepless nights of itching and scratching those mosquito bites.
Tips
- Monsoon is the breeding season for mosquitoes
- Do not scratch, instead use ice to massage the bittena area
- Cover yourself with clothing to avoid mosquito bite
- Taking too many antibiotics should be avoided during monsoon season
