[인사이트] Reporter Dasom Kim = As summer began in earnest, mosquitoes began to appear.
At this time of the year, there are people who are particularly suffering, and when they are bitten by a mosquito, their skin is swollen and burning much worse than others.
The swelling persists for more than a week, and the area around the bite area becomes bright red.
If you are also experiencing these symptoms, you may suspect Skeeter’s syndrome (mosquito allergy).
Skeeter syndrome is a disease that is not yet well known in Korea, but refers to a local skin inflammatory reaction caused by mosquito saliva (saliva).
Mosquitoes leave saliva in our body while sucking blood, and the immune cells in our body recognize this as a dangerous foreign substance and induce an immune response that causes itching.
In the case of Skeeter’s syndrome, it swells several times at the site of a mosquito bite, and symptoms such as swelling persist for more than 10 days.
When you get bitten by a mosquito on the back of your hand, the entire hand becomes bright red, or a rash accompanied by pain and itching appears.
Even severe symptoms can cause blisters, fever, and even breathing difficulties due to anaphylactic shock.
If you have been bitten by a mosquito, do not scratch, even if it itches. Scratching can damage internal tissues and release inflammatory substances, which can make itching worse.
Once you have been bitten by a mosquito, apply a cold compress. Cold compresses can constrict blood vessels and suppress the release of histamine, which causes itching.
Also, mosquitoes prefer dark colors to bright colors, so it is better to wear bright colors. Avoid drinking alcohol and wash immediately following outdoor activities so that sweat does not remain on the body.
Mosquitoes are light in weight and fly slowly, so they are affected by the wind a lot, so turning on a fan is also helpful.