Mosquitos
Mosquitos are common pests that we see in Missouri, especially in the summer. We see a lot of mosquitos around water. Mosquito bites can be itchy and annoying, and we worry about them because some mosquitos can spread sickness through bites. Some examples are West Nile virus or malaria. You can prevent bites by using and reapplying bug spray. Wearing long sleeve shirts and pants will also help.
If you do get a mosquito bite, wash with soap and water. You can use an ice pack on the bite for about 10 minutes to help with swelling and itching. There are creams you can buy (like Benadryl cream) to help with the itching. If you have questions about creams, give us a call!
It is important to not scratch bites because you don’t want it to get infected. If you think the bite might be infected or if it gets worse, call your doctor.
Tips for bug spray:
- Always apply sunscreen before bug spray
- Do not spray bug spray under your clothes
- DEET is safe and works really well
- Follow directions on the bottle
- Do not spray on your face or spray on hands to apply to face
Mosquito bites might not seem that bad, but it is important to try to not get bit because some mosquitos can spread disease.
For more information about bug sprays: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents