The fighting power of "autumn mosquitoes" is off the charts. Let's have a "mosquito-killing" storm! See the "vicious" flowers

After finally getting through the summer mosquito attacks, many people have fallen victim to the "autumn mosquitoes".

After the beginning of autumn, mosquitoes not only did not disappear, but became even more "crazy", biting more vigorously and causing more itchy bites. What's going on?

Why are autumn mosquitoes poisonous?

In fact, "autumn mosquitoes are poisonous" is a misunderstanding. The most suitable temperature for mosquitoes to survive is 26℃, and June, July, September, and October every year are the peak periods of mosquito activity. Especially in autumn, the amount of accumulated water increases after rainfall, and the temperature is suitable for mosquito reproduction, so the number of mosquitoes increases. In addition, many people think that autumn mosquitoes are the most poisonous. That is because the biting female mosquitoes have to suck blood and lay eggs for the last time after the arrival of autumn, so their aggressiveness will become stronger, not the most poisonous.

What kind of mosquito is the “vicious” flower mosquito?

Aedes albopictus (Source: Baidu Encyclopedia)

We will find that the most poisonous ones are flower mosquitoes, which are actually Aedes albopictus. They overwinter in the form of eggs and need enough nutrition to meet the requirements of egg laying, which leads to the fact that mosquitoes must increase the frequency and amount of blood sucking during this stage, which is also the reason why mosquito bites are still fierce after autumn.

It is particularly noteworthy that Aedes albopictus is the main vector of dengue fever, so the control and protection of mosquitoes in autumn still needs everyone's attention.

How can bites be prevented?

To learn how to prevent mosquito bites, pay attention to the following points:

1. Take a shower as soon as possible after exercise to keep your skin fresh. When it is hot, you will sweat a lot, so wipe off the sweat with a tissue or handkerchief in time.

Because the carbon dioxide emitted by the human body has a strong attraction to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes mainly rely on their olfactory organs (the pair of small antennae) to sense the "information" of the human body in the air. Although mosquitoes are only 1 cm long, they can search up to 60 kilometers.

Within this range, organisms with stronger "signals" are naturally more likely to become their targets. People who excrete more carbon dioxide have a relatively high concentration of carbon dioxide around their bodies, and the "image" presented in the mosquito's unique field of vision will be clearer, making it easier for mosquitoes to conduct directional tracking.

At the same time, the sweat excreted by the human body evaporates into the air, which will also become a major signal to attract mosquitoes. Therefore, taking a bath frequently can effectively prevent mosquito bites.

2. If there are many mosquitoes in the place you are in, you can wear long-sleeved clothes to cover up the smell of sweat and other body secretions.

3. It is best to wear white clothes for outdoor sports, because white clothes have strong reflective ability and can repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes like darkness and like to suck blood in low light environments, so we often wake up at night with bags all over our bodies.

During the day, when people wear dark clothes, the reflected light is darker, which is exactly what mosquitoes like. In addition, dark clothes have strong heat absorption ability, so black becomes the first choice for mosquitoes to attack, followed by blue, red, green, etc. The color that mosquitoes dislike the most is white. Similarly, mosquitoes like to bite people with dark or red skin.

4. When going to places with many mosquitoes, it is not advisable to use cosmetics with strong odors such as perfume.

Many perfumes containing stearic acid, hair sprays with floral scents, face creams and other cosmetics are very attractive to mosquitoes, and the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes will be greatly increased after applying these. Of course, there are also some smells that mosquitoes hate, such as bay leaves, lemongrass oil, garlic and other smells, which have an offensive effect on mosquitoes, just like the lethality of durian to some people.

Once bitten, 3 steps to relieve itching and prevent infection

When first bitten

Mosquito bites can cause redness, swelling and itching of the skin. Scratching will cause the release of histamine, which will only make people feel more itchy and may also cause infection.

Generally speaking, the itching sensation will significantly subside 15 minutes after being bitten. Before that, you can apply some wind oil, cooling oil, etc. to relieve the itching.

If a blister has formed, put a wet towel in the refrigerator and freeze it, then apply it to the bite site once every 2-3 hours for about 20 minutes each time.

For pregnant women or children, it is best to wash with soapy water or aloe vera juice, which can neutralize acidic toxins without harming the body.

It is forbidden to use on the skin around the eyes, nostrils, lips, etc., as well as on wounds.

Local large package

If a large lump forms locally, you can choose hormone ointments such as Elocon appropriately. It is best to use the spot or thin coating method. Do not apply it more than twice a day and do not use it for more than 3 consecutive days.

It is best to consult a doctor before using it on the armpits, neck, back of the knees, thighs, etc.

If the lump does not go away after four or five days, it may be an allergy to mosquito toxins. You can take oral antihistamines as prescribed by your doctor, and apply cold wet compresses with 3% boric acid liquid, or dissolve a tablet of promethazine in clean water and apply it repeatedly to the affected area, 3-5 times a day.

Redness, swelling, inflammation, ulceration

The skin of infants and young children is relatively delicate. After being bitten by mosquitoes, it is itchy and uncomfortable, and they are easily scratched and infected. Some children have weak resistance and may have systemic reactions such as fever.

If there is a mild infection after the skin is scratched, you can apply erythromycin ointment, chloramphenicol eye ointment or gentian violet with a concentration of 1%-2%.

Some children with allergic constitutions may also develop large red and swollen lumps in places where mosquitoes have not bitten them. If necessary, they need to seek medical attention promptly and take anti-allergic preparations such as Claritin syrup orally in combination with anti-allergic treatment.

Some patients with purulent infections may be infected with Staphylococcus aureus. They will swell greatly in a short period of time, accompanied by fever and chills. In addition to treating local abscesses, they must also take medication as prescribed by their doctor, such as oral or intravenous cephalosporin first- or second-generation antibiotics.

This article is compiled from Knowledge is Power magazine, Life Times, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC News, Science Popularization Hunan