Why Does My Child Always Get Bitten By Mosquitoes?
Go out for a walk and see that there are a lot of children playing without problems, while your child is surrounded by annoying insects. Why is my child always bitten by mosquitoes? Faced with this question, we offer you some pointers to help you understand.
Mosquitoes are insects found in hot climates. For this reason, their stings can be very common during the summer; it is a concern for mothers, especially during the holidays.
Unfortunately, children are a very attractive target for mosquitoes. Frequently, they take advantage of outdoor activities to make themselves comfortable.
You may have observed that your child is always bitten by mosquitoes and that, on the contrary, these insects keep away from other people; your child may be an attractive target.
It is possible that it is just your perception; however, mosquitoes could obviously have a predilection for various reasons. Below, we explain the most common reasons why your child is always bitten by mosquitoes.
Why is my child always bitten by mosquitoes?
First, you need to know the reasons why your child is the favorite food of these unsightly insects. From there, you can take the necessary steps to reduce the chances of being stung.
Blood group
Blood type is one of the things that most attract mosquitoes. These insects sting to feed themselves and, like us, they have their preferences; When choosing a target, they are more likely to choose people with type 0 blood. If your child is of this blood type, it may be a reason why he is always bitten by mosquitoes.
Their second option is people with type B blood, while people in group A are almost twice as spiky as those in group 0.
How can mosquitoes recognize our blood type? Depending on the type of blood we have, we eliminate oligosaccharides or sugars through the skin that act as chemical signals that mosquitoes are able to perceive. This tells them what our blood group is.
Physical activity
Mosquitoes tend to be attracted to heat. When playing or playing sports, children’s bodies give off heat; however, this is not the only element that they identify during physical activity; there is also sweat.
While playing, children become impregnated with normal substances of perspiration such as lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia; these are perceived from afar by mosquitoes and attract them.
It is not just a question of hygiene. Genetics plays a very important factor, since it depends on a greater or lesser quantity of the substances that the body emanates naturally with sweating.
Skin bacteria
A large number of bacterial species naturally inhabit our skin; some types, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, can attract mosquitoes.
Bacteria don’t just affect us; Pseudomonas aeruginosa seems to have the opposite effect with respect to the previous one. That is, it seems to ward off these insects.
This interaction between attraction and repulsion by the bacteria in our skin leads them, in turn, to sting us more often in specific areas such as the ankles or feet, where the greatest number of germ colonies are concentrated.
Clothes
Mosquitoes aren’t guided by smell alone; sight is also a key element in identifying their target. They can more easily detect dark colors such as black, blue or red.
Pastel or light colors, such as white, on the other hand, not only help reduce the risk of insect bites, but will keep your child cooler during outdoor games; especially in summer when the heat is at its maximum.
If the child has been away from home for some time and has several red bumps on different parts of his body when he returns, he has probably been stung by an insect almost certainly, from mosquitoes.
Prevention measures against mosquito bites
If your child is always bitten by mosquitoes, don’t despair. You can ward off these annoying insects by practicing some simple tips:
- Avoid clothes of dark or flashy colors; especially black and blue.
- Reduce the time spent outdoors in the evening, which is the time with the greatest amount of mosquitoes.
- Eliminate the deposits of stagnant water in the house, because they favor the proliferation of insects.
- Use mosquito nets on windows and doors, or even ultrasonic insect repellent devices.
While repellents are a good option to protect children, they must be used with care. You have to make sure that they are suitable and safe products.
On the other hand, there are also some natural remedies to ward off mosquitoes. There are antimicrobial plants like sage, or others that keep them away like eucalyptus and cinnamon; these could be rubbed on the skin, for example. Another very famous one that is useful for this purpose is lemongrass, which can be found on the market in various forms.
As a final recommendation, watch out for sting reactions for any signs of infections or allergies. If you notice that they swell, hurt a lot, clear pus, or the child has a fever, see your pediatrician as soon as possible.
