Mosquito pest clouds the summer fun

Mosquito Alarm: What protects against stings and helps itch?

23/07/2013

Summer makes it possible: long evenings in the garden or on the balcony, barbecues or a family outing to the lake - outdoor activities are simply fun in the warm temperatures. But the fun can be quickly clouded, because currently the mosquitoes are very active and are therefore for many people to a real plague.

Numerous mosquitoes due to flooding
Mosquitoes alarm all over Germany: This year are again particularly many of the small insects on the way, especially because of the flood, the animals were able to find particularly good breeding conditions: So the mosquito females lay especially in shallow water such as flooded meadows up to 200 eggs, sometimes even the smallest amounts of water suffice, like in small puddles, tree hollows or rock pits. About 14 days later, the new generation of mosquitoes hatches, which grow to 15 millimeters in size and weigh 2 to 2.5 milligrams, with the males being smaller than the mosquito females.

Only the mosquitoes sting
The females are not only taller, they are also in this case „dangerous“ Gender - because only they can sting. The reason: After fertilization by the males, it is necessary for the females to take a blood meal, because to produce eggs, they need foreign proteins. The blood is thereby with the help of the so-called „piercing proboscis“ taken from humans or animals, usually about as much as two to three times their own weight. If a mosquito stings, slight pain can occur at the moment of the sting, provided that the Stechrüssel hits or grazes a pain nerve. But the really unpleasant thing is in most cases the allergic reaction in the form of redness or small swelling, which usually occurs shortly thereafter around the puncture site, which is often also associated with a strong itching - triggered by a specific protein, which is in the saliva the mosquito is located to prevent the blood from clotting.

Strong carbon dioxide emissions promote risk of sting
Even though no one is generally immune to mosquito bites, for example, avoiding perfume or other highly perfumed care products can help reduce the risk of bites, as they particularly attract stinging insects. The breath also acts as an attractant - because as scientists have shown, people with strong carbon dioxide emissions are stung faster or more often than others - so who eats a lot of rice or sweats heavily, which belongs here to „risk group“.

Home remedies mostly without effect
To protect themselves from the mosquitoes, a variety of methods are used, which are in most cases, however, from the expert's point of view quite ineffective: According to, for example, according to the Stiftung Warentest the protective effect of essential oils to zero, instead they would often even irritating, because „Essential oils usually have a high mucous membrane-irritating potential and can sometimes trigger allergic reactions.“ Also, devices for the socket that secrete insecticide are not advisable according to the Foundation, also would also garden torches, scented candles or ultrasound equipment show no lasting effect - the same applies to home remedies such as lemon balm, tomato or basil plants. Similarly, consumers are strongly advised not to buy electronic traps with UV light, as they would attract protected moths rather than mosquitoes.

Long and loose clothing protects outdoors
In order to protect themselves as much as possible at home, experts recommend using fine-mesh synthetic or cotton screens placed in front of the windows; alternatively, a mosquito net over the bed can also be a good aid, with a mesh size of two millimeters should be enough. Outside, long and above all long clothes protect against the stings, because thin, close-fitting fabrics facilitate the puncture of the animals. According to Prof. Ernst-Gerhard Burmeister, the former deputy director of the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, additional equipment would also offer special protection: „There are some fragrances that you put under the table, for example, as an attractant to destroy the mosquito like special CO2 donors, because that's the primary attraction that causes the mosquito to fly to us as humans“, so the mosquito expert in an interview with „Bavaria 2“.

Mosquito repellent effective only with certain ingredients
Further protection is provided by mosquito repellents („repellents“), which are available in numerous variations. But Prof. Ernst-Gerhard Burmeister advises consumers to take a close look at the ingredients, because only products would make sense, „containing Icaridin or Diethyltoluamide (DEET), chemicals that have been found due to lengthy research and can actually deter mosquitoes. You should always pay attention to these substances if you want to buy mosquito repellent.“ The Stiftung Warentest also advises products with these ingredients, because the active substance DEET is the most effective according to the foundation - but there is also the risk that the eyes and mucous membranes could be irritated. Accordingly, anti-mosquito products should be kept away from small children necessarily, instead recommends Stiftung Warentest: „Protect babies with clothes and nets. Repellents have no place on baby skin. They are more suitable for children over the age of three.“

In the case of stitches, cooling primarily helps
Whom it has caught despite all protective measures, the experts recommend cooling primarily with ice cubes or cooling pads or the use of a cooling gel. In addition, often just helps a little spit and a slice of lemon or onion, which is placed for a few minutes on the puncture site. According to the dermatologist Prof. Dr. med. med. Dietrich Abeck especially not to scratch the sting, because in this way bacteria could enter the body and cause inflammation, which in turn could lead to serious infections. Even if mosquito bites are usually harmless - as soon as the site around the puncture swells excessively or otherwise discomfort, the expert should also be consulted as a precaution, a doctor. (No)

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Picture credits: segovax