A swollen mosquito bite occurs when your immune system reacts to the mosquito's saliva, causing inflammation, redness, and itching. To treat it, apply a cold compress, use antihistamines, or try calamine lotion.
When a mosquito bites you, it injects saliva containing proteins that trigger your immune response. Your body releases histamine to fight the foreign substances, which causes blood vessels to dilate and fluid to leak into the surrounding tissue. This results in swelling, redness, and itching.
To minimize swelling, start by cleaning the area with soap and water. Then apply a cold compress-a bag of frozen peas works well-for 10 minutes to constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation. Repeat this every few hours as needed.
There are several effective treatments for swollen mosquito bites:
Most mosquito bites resolve within a few days. However, seek medical attention if the bite becomes extremely painful, shows signs of infection (pus, increasing redness, warmth), or if swelling persists for more than three days. Severe allergic reactions, though rare, require immediate care.
I once treated a particularly swollen bite on my arm using a cold compress and hydrocortisone cream. The swelling went down within a few hours, and the itching stopped altogether by the next morning.