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Mosquito bites in toddlers are common, and the itching annoyance these bites cause can irritate your toddler significantly. These bites may sometimes cause severe infections, such as malaria, chikungunya, dengue feveriA mosquito-borne viral disease that causes a high fever and acute pain in the joints. , and West Nile EncephalitisiAn infectious disease characterized by brain inflammation caused by the West Nile Virus. (1).
In particular, West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most infected people do not feel sick, and approximately 1 in 5 people infected with WNV experience fever and other signs.
Additionally, scratching the irritating bites might result in boils, scarring, and scabbingiThe dried crusty surface of a healing skin wound. . Therefore, prevention is the best approach, and you must take precautions to keep your toddler safe from mosquito bites.
This post explains all you need to know about mosquito bites, including recognizing them in toddlers and steps to protect them.
9 Ways To Protect Your Toddler From Mosquito Bites
You need to protect your toddler from mosquito bites. Here is what you can do (2) (3):
1. Use protective clothing that covers their arms and legs. Wearing socks is also a good idea to protect them from bites.
2. Make your toddler wear light colored clothes and avoid flowery prints to keep away the mosquitoes.
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3. Rather than applying insect repellent cream on their body directly, you can apply it on the clothes and rub it gently. The repellents you use must contain eucalyptus oil, citronella, picaridin, or geraniol. It must not come in contact with their hands and eyes. If you do not want to use cream or lotion, you can use mosquito repellent spray instead.
4. You must never rub DEET products on the clothes of your toddler. The chemicals can cause potential harm to their skin.
5. Using a mosquito net at home is a good practice that you should follow. Netting is a cheap and easy way to offer protection without using chemicals. You can keep one handy in your car and carry it wherever you go.
6. Keep your toddler away from areas that have too many mosquitoes. Stagnant water and woody regions are highly inhabited by these pesky insects. Keep your toddler away from motionless water.
7. You must look out for empty garbage cans, unused toys or portable pool for your toddler that are also suitable breeding grounds.
8. If you have broken window seals, repair them. Keep the doors and windows closed if you face the problem of mosquitoes where you live. Use a fan or an air conditioner instead.
9. You must be particularly vigilant with your preventive techniques during dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Quick tip6 Effective Tips To Treat Mosquito Bites In Toddlers
Toddlers usually become an easy target for mosquitoes to bite. Here is what you can do while treating mosquito bites in toddlers (4) (5).
1. If you find your toddler scratching the affected area, apply ice to prevent swelling and itchiness.
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2. You can also apply a roll-on deodorant containing aluminum chloride.
3. To treat the bite, you may also apply calamineiAn OTC topical ointment used for relieving itching, pain, and skin irritation. lotion.
In addition to the above-mentioned tips, a mother shares her remedy to relieve her toddler from mosquito bites and itching. She explains, “1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon bentonite clay and an equal amount of apple cider vinegar, and sunflower oil. Mix clay and vinegar thoroughly, until you reach a mayonnaise consistency. Fizzing is normal. Dab some of this mixture onto your mosquito bites, until covered. Let dry completely, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Rub in some sunflower oil. My toddler was scratching the crap out of one of the bites on her leg. Once I applied the clay, and then the oil, she didn’t bother with her bite until bedtime. The best part was that her bite was gone the next day (i).”
4. Continuous scratching may cause fingernails to break into the skin and cause growth of bacteria. So ask your toddler not to scratch it.
5. In case you find any signs of infection like pus, redness and swelling, call the doctor.
Experts saySymptoms Of Allergies From Mosquito Bites
Some of the common symptoms of allergic reaction that you should look for are as follows (5) (6):
- Anaphylaxis (rare)iAn extreme reaction to an allergen causing breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness.
- Large hivesiSkin rash characterized by itchiness, commonly caused by allergenic foods or medications.
- Breathing trouble
- Blisters
- Difficulty swallowing
You should immediately see a doctor as these symptoms can be life threatening. Apart from being concerned about allergies, you must also consider the dangerous diseases transmitted through mosquito bites.
Be watchfulWhen To Be Extra Alert For Toddler Mosquito Bites?
In the following cases, you must take your toddler to a doctor at the earliest (7):
- If you find reactions occurring in different body parts and he complains of difficulty in breathing.
- In case the irritation, itchiness, or swelling gets worse.
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- If your toddler complains of pain and redness in the affected area and it does not subside even after 48 hours.
- If they talk or act in a confused manner.
- If you see pus draining at the site of the bite.
It is not possible to completely avoid mosquito bites in toddlers as they love being outdoors. However, following certain crucial and simple preventive measures could help keep your toddler safe from the after-effects of being bitten by a mosquito. Be mindful of the locality your toddler plays to keep them less prone to such bites and follow proper hygiene in and around your vicinity to keep mosquitoes at bay. You may use home remedies such as applying ice or lotion to soothe a mosquito bite in your toddler and preventing them from scratching excessively. Seek medical treatment and care if the bite does not resolve in a couple of days or appears to have become infected.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do mosquito bites look like in toddlers?
Red bumps with itchy skin may indicate mosquito bites in toddlers. Some toddlers may experience swelling around the bite area, especially on the face or near the eye (5). Sometimes, it can look like hives on the skin.
2. How long do mosquito bites last on toddlers?
Skin itchiness and redness due to mosquito bites can last for three to four days in toddlers. Swelling around the eye or face may last for a week. Although a mosquito bite on the upper face may cause severe swelling lasting a few days, it won’t affect vision or do any harm (8).
3. Why are my toddlers’ mosquito bites so big?
Children are highly sensitive to mosquito bites and can develop severe reactions causing noticeable redness and swelling around the mosquito bite. This type of reaction in children is known as the skeeter syndrome. In comparison, adults may not develop large areas of redness or swelling since they become desensitized to mosquito bites (9).
4. Can a child get sick from too many mosquito bites?
Mosquito bites in children can lead to sickness, but this is usually due to the transmission of a virus or other pathogen, such as malaria, West Nile virus, and zika virus, through the mosquito’s bite (1).
5. What home remedies are effective for treating mosquito bites in toddlers?
Wash the mosquito bite with soap and water first. You may then apply an ice pack to reduce itching. Severe irritation and itching may be managed by applying pure aloe vera gel or honey (11). These are generally safe. Nevertheless, do check for any allergic reactions. If your child has sensitive skin, then an ice pack can suffice to manage mosquito bite irritation.
It is not possible to completely avoid mosquito bites in toddlers as they love being outdoors. However, following certain crucial and simple preventive measures could help keep your toddler safe from the after-effects of being bitten by a mosquito. Be mindful of the locality your toddler plays to keep them less prone to such bites and follow proper hygiene in and around your vicinity to keep mosquitoes at bay. You may apply ice or lotion to soothe a mosquito bite in your toddler and prevent them from scratching excessively. Seek medical care if the inflammation does not resolve in a couple of days or appears to have become infected. You can prevent your child’s discomfort by following simple measures.
Infographic: Ways To Protect Your Toddler From Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes can vex adults and children alike, but they can be dangerous for toddlers, who are more vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases. It is, therefore, vital to take steps to protect your toddler from mosquitoes. This infographic can be a quick and helpful guide to help protect your toddler from mosquitoes. Read on! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Use protective clothing, mosquito nets and avoid flowery prints to protect toddlers from mosquito bites.
- Apply ice, roll-on deodorant, or calamine lotion to treat mosquito bites in toddlers and discourage scratching.
- Watch out for symptoms of allergies from mosquito bites, including anaphylaxis, large hives, breathing difficulties, blisters, and difficulty swallowing.
Illustration: Effective Tips To Treat Mosquito Bites In Toddlers
Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team
Watch this video to learn about the mechanism of a mosquito bite and how it affects us.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. How to naturally treat mosquito bites.https://contradictorytendencies.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/a-mosquito-bite-experiment/
References
- Vector-borne diseases.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases - Preventing Mosquito Bites.
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-bites/prevent-mosquito-bites.html - Mosquitoes – protect your home a checklist.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/mosquitoes-protect-your-home-checklist - About Mosquito Bites.
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/about-mosquito-bites.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-bites/symptoms.html - Mosquito bite.
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/symptoms/mosquito-bite/ - Mosquito bites.
https://medlineplus.gov/mosquitobites.html - Mosquito bite.
https://www.stlouischildrens.org/health-resources/symptom-checker/mosquito-bite - Mosquito Bite.
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/mosquito-bite/#:~:text=Most%20mosquito%20bites%20itch%20for - Mosquito Bites.
https://www.stclair.org/services/mayo-clinic-health-information/diseases-and-conditions/CON-20375295/ - What Happens When a Mosquito Bite Gets Infected?
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-a-mosquito-bite-gets-infected-and-what-to-do/ - Mosquito Bites.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17695-mosquito-bites
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