Why do mosquito bites have to itch? Not what makes them itch, but what is the purpose of the itch?

Answer 1

The itchiness is not caused directly by the mosquito's bite or the chemicals in the mosquito spit but by the body's immune response to them. Your immune system releases histamine, a protein involved in many allergic reactions, in order to fight off a foreign substance. The histamine causes swelling around the puncture wound as blood rushes to the affected area, and as a side effect makes you itch.

Who knew?
I prefer to squish them before they get a chance to bite me!

Answer 2

When the mosquito stabs her needle-like mouthparts through the skin of her victim, she injects her saliva -- teeming with digestive enzymes and anticoagulants. The first time a person is bitten, there is no reaction. With subsequent bites, the person becomes sensitized to the foreign proteins, and small, itchy, red bumps appear about 24 hours later. This is the most common reaction in young children. After many more bites, a pale, swollen hive, or wheal, begins to appear within minutes after a bite -- followed by the red bump 24 hours later. This is the most common reaction in older children and adolescents.

With repeated mosquito bites, some people begin to become insensitive again, much as if they had allergy shots. Some older children and adults get no reaction to mosquito bites (unless they go for a long time without being bitten -- then the process can start again). Other people become increasingly allergic with repeated stings. They can develop blistering, bruised, large inflammatory reactions. For these people, avoiding being bitten is a particularly good idea.

Answer 3

Just the infection trying to make its way out. Well, not infection as such. But your body isn't used to it, its as though its an allergic reaction or something. Only female mosquitos bite, and they stick their needle like thing into you and sucks up until her abdomen is full. Not pleasant.

Anyway, more to the point.

The itching, swelling, and burning from a mosquito bite are actually caused by the body's autoimmune response to the saliva injected by the mosquito when she feeds. This saliva contains anti-coagulating agents that prevent the victim's blood from clotting as it is sucked into the mosquito's abdomen. A bite may take several days to heal and stop itching; treat it with Calamine lotion or a topical anti-itch medication.


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Answer 4

Seems u got many trouble with mosuito hah? ^ ^
Okay, I will try to explain it briefly. In our body especially in our white blood cell, containing a protein called as the histamine. That protein will react with any harmful chemical material in our body. And also will open your blood capilary so that there is lot more O2 that could get in. Yeah it is a bosy natural reaction. Actually that itch is not occuring in only mosquito`s, but also in the venomous creature bitten, or when we get infect by any pathogen. Ok?

Answer 5

I don't think the itch has a purpose. When mosqitos bite, they release a chemical into the blood so it does not clot. The chemical causes the bite to itch. You scratch it to relieve the annoying itching sensation.

Answer 6

The itch is from the mosquito's spit, which keeps the blood from clotting and trapping it's snout or guming up her innards once it's inside her.

The itching results an immune response to a foreign chemical in your body, redness and swelling from blood flow increasing at the site, itching is from ne of the chemicals of the immune response, Histamine, it's produced in the skin in response to injury or chemical irritation.

Answer 7

They inject an anti-coagulant into you to make your blood easy for them to drink. Some people are highly allergic to it, so they get big welts that itch like crazy. I'm one of those people, and it sucks! Some people are not all that bothered, they only itch a little bit.

Answer 8

It's you're bodies reaction to a foreign substance in your body...

so many white blood cells flood to the scen, engorging the spot, and irritating it...

the same reason a scab itches.

Answer 9

I was told that the itch you feel is actually pain...but since it is such a small amount of pain, your body perceives it as itchy.

Your body knows there is a foreign substance in it and it wants you to get it out...so you scratch to try to remove it.

Answer 10

It's your body's reaction to the mosquito's saliva -- your body's way of letting you know that you've been bitten, and you should probably do something about it. :)