extreme reaction to mosquito bites

[gigismom]

dd2 (6yo) has always seemed to not only attract more mosquito bites than any other person I've ever known, but she also seems to react so much more severely than others. Initially the bite is very swollen and extremely itchy and then it turns into a small fluid filled blister that eventually dries up. Last weekend she had 2 bites on her middle toe and her entire foot swelled up to the ankle one day and the next it was normal again. The next day she had 2 again on her ear. The ear literally tripled in size and then was normal the next day. Now she has multiple bites on her arm and is miserable with the itching. She absolutely refuses benadryl and I am not sure it would help anyway. Anything else I can try to ease the itching and discomfort? Any ideas why she may react so severely? Is this a detox problem? She already takes b12 and folinic acid and vit c with bioflavins and mag daily. She also takes probiotics every day. She is sensitive to dairy (eczema) and has been cheating lately. Maybe this is related? She did seem to have somewhat of a reprieve from the mosquito issue until the past couple of weeks. The dairy cheating may kind of coinside with the uptake in mosquito bite reactions....maybe? I can't quite get the timeline right in my head but just thought I would throw that out there in case it makes sense for anyone. thanks

jen

[Thystle]

Is she allergic to them?


My son is and has a very similar reaction.

[KMK_Mama]

I think my DD is allergic too. My MIL told me that my husband reacted the same way as a child. My DD has one right now that's rather large. It has a bruise in the center about the size of a dime and the red ring around it is bigger than a silver dollar.

[Learning_Mum]

DS2 seems to be allergic to them as well. Infact this last summer was the first time he'd ever been bitten. The first bite was on his foot and it swelled up to twice it's normal size. It was so bad that I actually thought he'd been stung by a bee.

The only thing that helps is antihistamine. It takes the swelling down and helps with the itching. They actually seem to be quite painful for him when they're swollen.

[SandyMom]

My dd reacts this way to mosquito bites also. Homeopathic Apis works wonders for her. 3 doses 15 mins apart and the swelling goes way down and itching decreases. I also add epsom salts to her bath at night which seems to really help with the itching. I also put bentonite clay on the bites.

[New_Natural_Mom]

Is she O blood type? I have been this way my whole life. I still get that way. Recently I heard that people with O blood type are more enticing. It sucks.

[Casha'sMommy]

This is me!

I have always attracted more mosquitos and have a rather severe reaction to their bites. The ONLY thing that works for the bites is to use a topical antihistamine. The only other thing I have done is ice the area and don't scratch. Scratching only makes the bite itch more and then the entire area will swell as in the case of a swollen foot from a couple of bites on a toe.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Casha'sMommy

This is me!

I have always attracted more mosquitos and have a rather severe reaction to their bites. The ONLY thing that works for the bites is to use a topical antihistamine. The only other thing I have done is ice the area and don't scratch. Scratching only makes the bite itch more and then the entire area will swell as in the case of a swollen foot from a couple of bites on a toe.

Ditto! I'm totally allergic and the little buggers seem to know it!!!

Scratching does make it worse and can make the itching spread. I've found that putting straight alcohol on the bite as soon as it happens also helps. Ice is good. Topical stuff is good too...but I'm not a huge fan. Benedryl (but you said she won't take it...)

I've had bites swell to the size of golf balls within minutes.

[neetling]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Ditto! I'm totally allergic and the little buggers seem to know it!!!

Scratching does make it worse and can make the itching spread. I've found that putting straight alcohol on the bite as soon as it happens also helps. Ice is good. Topical stuff is good too...but I'm not a huge fan. Benedryl (but you said she won't take it...)

I've had bites swell to the size of golf balls within minutes.

I react like this too. But I take the benadryl. I am not a person that can not scratch. I have scars from living in the south where the mosquitoes were terrible.

I do have an O blood type. I'd never heard we were tastier before.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by neetling

I react like this too. But I take the benadryl. I am not a person that can not scratch. I have scars from living in the south where the mosquitoes were terrible.

I do have an O blood type. I'd never heard we were tastier before.

I broke out in hives all over my legs once because I got enough bites to set off that kind of reaction. It's one of the things I hate about Texas!

I'm A+ so I have NO idea why I'm so friggin' tasty

[neetling]

My husband calls me his mosquito repellent. lol Because if we are both outside they'll mostly leave him alone to feast on me.

[Ethelpea]

Interesting about the blood type. I'm O and react pretty severely to bites (have had blood poisoning in the past as a result).

However, when I am diligent at avoiding gluten, dairy AND taking plenty of healthy oils (especially coconut oil), AND taking my ascorbic acid and vitamin d, I rarely get bitten. When I fall off the nutritional wagon and start eating like crap (as I did last week during our Wash. DC vacation) then I get bitten badly.

You can try putting a light paste of vitamin c (ascorbic acid, though it might burn on them...this seems to help my daughter.). Another thing that may help once bitten is a paste of baking soda or rubbing soap on the bites. Though with a reaction as severe as your dd's, these remedies probably would barely touch her itching.

Just my experience.

[carfreemama]

Another 0 blood type (0 negative) who has reactions like this to mosquitos. Dd does, too; though I'm not sure of her blood type. Dh doesn't at all and his blood type is B, I think. So it does seem this is the trend.

We use calendula in lanolin. It helps both of us, though dd still scratches. It's too bad, because we're campers. I wonder if getting more exposure will help over time? It didn't seem quite so bad this weekend (then again, I'm 42 and have been exposed all my life and it's still happening...)

[gigismom]

thanks to all for the replies... she is O blood type, interesting. also interesting is the nutritional stuff. she recently cheated on her dairy intolerance and also had some grains (we normally eat grain free). i can't remember how this fits into when she was bitten though. definitely could be related

jen

[AAK]

My sister attracts them like crazy. Before we go camping, we both take garlic supplements for about a week and throughout the trip. It works for both of us--hardly any bites.

Amy

[Mom2M]

My DD (5) just reacted to mosquito bites in a severe way last week and it was scary!
I did end up giving her benadryl because they were all over and huge welts. We were at my friend's house and her DH is a pedi. He first said just put some cool washcloths on but suggested some benadryl after watching her swell up.
I never saw such a reaction on anyone! By the next day they were still big spots but not hives anymore.

[carfreemama]

Are there other allergies/sensitivities with your affected kids? I see with some there are. Dd has no other allergies or sensitivities that I am aware of and is rarely sick. It seems strange to react so strongly to just that one thing, but I suppose it's possible. Garlic is an interesting idea, though we all eat tons of it fresh anyway.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by carfreemama

Are there other allergies/sensitivities with your affected kids? I see with some there are. Dd has no other allergies or sensitivities that I am aware of and is rarely sick. It seems strange to react so strongly to just that one thing, but I suppose it's possible. Garlic is an interesting idea, though we all eat tons of it fresh anyway.

Garlic: Yeah, I've heard that if you take/eat lots of it you can repel bugs...but DH and I both love it and it doesn't affect me.

[scorpio66]

I also get bitten often, with reactions intense, itching & puffing site for weeks... I have a theory on the blood type. In O negative, which makes me a universal donor. But I can only receive O neg blood. When a mozzie bites you, it leaves traces of other blood in you. I really think thats why I get a severe reaction to them. Cant do much about that..

[neptunemama]

My older dd is a mosquito magnet.  She gets bitten 10x worse than the rest of us, and the bites swell up horribly, are incredibly itchy and the swelling and itching last for days.  What has made a huge difference for her is taking Claritin, (Loratadine is the specific drug name).  We give it to her prophylactically before (and then during of course) camping trips, or any trip/activity where she will likely encounter mosquitos.  We've found giving it to her a day or two prior to a trip works better than starting it the day of.  Not sure if there's any scientific reason for why it works, but we've done both, and she has a better outcome if we start it early.  It doesn't prevent them from biting her, but it does prevent the horrible swelling and insane itching.  She gets a more normal reaction to the bites and is a lot more comfortable.  My MIL is the same way and since we told her about using Loratadine, began taking it for this purpose and has found huge relief herself.  I like it b/c my dd doesn't have to take it often, only sometimes in the summer (we don't live where there are many mosquitos fortunately), the side effects are minimal, and the relief is enormous.  She used to scratch herself raw b/c the bites itched so badly, and even has some tiny scars from years ago.  Now that doesn't happen.