Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

Why do mosquito bites itch? Many people ask this question after they've been bit by one of the pesky bugs. Unfortunately, humans are the perfect target for mosquitoes and their large needle noses. Their bite leaves a red bump that will make you itch like crazy. Most of the time, you won't even realize that you've been bit because it takes a few hours before any irritation starts. Read the following information to learn more about these syringe-like bugs and why their bites itch.

The Female Mosquito - You should be aware that the female mosquito is the only one that feeds on blood. However, she's not actually biting you when she does this. She is using her proboscis to pierce your skin and drink your blood. The proboscis is the straw-like mouth part that allows mosquitoes to search for your blood vessels. It's one of the main reasons why mosquito bites itch.

The Release of Saliva – Another reason why mosquito bites itch is because of their saliva. Once they find your blood vessel, they leave a bit of saliva behind. The saliva has an anti-coagulant in it, which is meant to keep your blood flowing until they are done drinking your blood. Your body responds to the anti-coagulant because it’s a foreign substance that the body is not used to.

Immune System Response - Once a mosquito leaves saliva in your body, your immune system attempts to fight it. Your body will start to produce histamine in order to get rid of the foreign substance. When the histamine reaches the mosquito bite, it causes your blood vessels to enlarge. This is what causes the red bump that forms after you've been bitten. Not only that, but it's also the reason as to why mosquito bites itch.

Expanded Blood Vessels – The main reason as to why mosquito bites itch is because of the expanded blood vessels. Their swelling causes the nerves to become irritated. Your body feels this irritation, which causes you to feel itchy. Therefore, it’s your body’s autoimmune response that causes the bites to itch rather than the bite itself. 

Avoiding Mosquitoes - Since you've learned why mosquito bites itch, it would be good to keep away from them. Besides sucking your blood, they can also give you diseases. For instance, mosquitoes have been known to carry the West Nile virus. In order to avoid them, you should use insect repellant when you're in areas that have a large amount of mosquitoes. Along with that, make sure that you have screens on your windows to keep them out of your home.