What makes it itch so much? And what causes it to swell when you scratch it?
This is not asking what you do to stop it itching, nor how to take care of it. I want to know the science behind it.
2007-09-04 09:16:32 · 2 answers · asked by Deborah P 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
When a mosquito bites you, it first pumps a bit of it's saliva into the wound. The saliva contains proteins that keep the blood from clotting so that she can keep sucking (only female mosquitos bite, by the way. They need the nutrients for their eggs). The proteins from the saliva evoke an immune response from your body. That is what causes the swelling and itching. And the itch stays until your body has finished breaking down the proteins, so scratching won't help. ;)
The saliva can also contain bacteria, viruses and parasites like those that cause malaria, so that is how those illnesses are spread.
2007-09-04 09:31:36 · answer #1 · answered by Ellie B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.howstuffworks.com/search.php
2007-09-04 09:24:27 · answer #2 · answered by lomatar1186 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋