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The itch is the result of an allergic reaction and our body’s defense against the insect’s bite. When a mosquito bites us, some of its saliva, containing anesthetics, anticoagulants and other substances, is injected into our skin. Immediately, our immune system kicks in and “sentinel” cells called mast cells release histamine and other defense agents to fight the invasion. Histamine increases blood circulation at the site, which leaves the skin red and swollen, but also increases the presence of protective cells at the site. But one unpleasant effect of histamine is itching. The worst thing is that, when scratching the wound, the person can infect the place with bacteria present in the nails. “When the allergic reaction is very intense, the person must take an antihistamine for the body to stop releasing histamine”, says São Paulo dermatologist Márcia Purceli. Some people are more susceptible to mosquito bites than others. “The degree of itching will depend on each person’s immune system. There are people who don’t even feel itchy”, says biochemist Almério de Castro Gomes, from USP’s School of Public Health.
Read too:
– What is the anatomy of a mosquito?
– What is the difference between a mosquito and a blackfly?
– Why do mosquitoes make an unbearable noise?