Skeeter Syndrome: When Mosquito Bites Turn Into a Serious Allergic Reaction

Uninvited mosquitoes that came along with summer. When a mosquito bites, the bitten area swells and itches. This is an allergic reaction to the hirudin component in mosquito saliva, which naturally disappears after a certain period of time. However, there are people who have a severe allergic reaction, such as excessive swelling of the mosquito bite. In this case, Skeeter syndrome should be suspected.

Skeeter syndrome often appears in children with weakened immune systems｜Source: Getty Image Bank

Skeeter’s syndrome, which is accompanied by severe itching, can cause cellulitis if left untreated
Skeeter syndrome is a type of insect allergy, which is a local skin inflammation caused by components of mosquito saliva. Generally, mild itching lasts for 1 to 2 days after being bitten by a mosquito. However, in people with Skeeter syndrome, the entire area of ​​the bite becomes red, visibly swollen, and severely itchy for about 10 days or longer. There are also cases where blisters form on the skin, like burns. In severe cases, secondary infections may develop into diseases such as cellulitis.

Cellulitis is one of the acute bacterial infections caused by bacteria invading the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Fever, chills, headache, red spots, etc. appear, and when the symptoms worsen, the red spots become clear and spread to the surroundings. If you touch the spread area, you can see that it is warm, soft, shiny, and swollen. Afterwards, pus may appear, and if left untreated, skin necrosis or sepsis or osteomyelitis may cause complications.

Skeeter syndrome mainly appears in children under elementary school age whose immune system is not complete. However, even healthy adults can suffer from Skeeter syndrome if their immunity is weakened due to excessive stress or low physical strength. In addition, Skeeter syndrome is greatly influenced by genetic factors, so the risk of Skeeter syndrome increases sharply if there is a person in the family who has Skeeter syndrome.

If you have any suspicious symptoms, go to the hospital immediately.
If you suspect Skeeter syndrome after being bitten by a mosquito, it is best to see a doctor immediately. This is because if treatment is delayed, the symptoms last longer and the risk of complications due to secondary infection increases. Also, even if the itching is severe, it is best not to scratch the lesion. Excessive scratching of the lesion can damage the internal tissue and exacerbate itching by secreting more inflammatory response substances. Therefore, it is good to relieve itching with ice packs.

Since Skeeter syndrome is an allergic reaction, it may cause shortness of breath or dizziness. In this case, it can lead to anaphylactic shock and can be life-threatening, so you need to visit the hospital for treatment. Skeeter syndrome is a disease for which there is no cure yet. Therefore, prevention is best. It is good to use mosquito repellent as much as possible and to minimize exposure of limbs by wearing long, bright clothes when outdoors. In addition, since mosquitoes like sweat, it is also helpful to take a shower frequently in the summer and manage your weight if you are overweight.

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