Home Remedies to Treat Mosquito Bites    [01-07-2011] Summer is a fun season and you often spend time outside, enjoying fun activities. However, there is one unpleasant thing about summer. It is none other than the mosquito bite! Mosquitoes are everywhere in the summer - especially outside. Mosquito bites are very annoying. So, what can you do to relieve the itching and swelling? This week, let’s learn some useful mosquito bite treatments to minimize the damage they create. There are about 2,000 species of mosquitoes in the world. Mosquitoes reproduce very quickly - especially in humid and damp areas. These little blood suckers can pass dangerous diseases to humans. For example, they can carry West Nile Virus, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and even heartworm disease. These diseases can be very dangerous. They can cause fever, body aches, coma, and even death! Your pet dogs can also be affected by mosquito bites. The heartworm is a parasite that affects household pets and the larvae are transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworms can clog up your pet dog’s heart, causing heart problems and even death. So if you keep a pet dog, it is important to get a preventive shot against heartworms. Then, how can you treat your mosquito bites? First, you have to wash the infected area with soap and water. Then, apply an ice cube or ice wrapped in a washcloth to the bite to help relieve the itch. Sometimes a mosquito bite continues to itch for a few days. However, avoid scratching because it can cause bigger problems such as infections or scars on your skin. Try to keep the site clean and dry. Also, applying your saliva on the bite is not a good idea. It can cause infections, too. Baking soda is also effective for mosquito bites. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Then, apply the sticky paste to the affected area. Rubbing a dry bar of soap directly on the mosquito bite can also help ease the itch. In fact, this is a popular home remedy for mosquito bites all over the world! Other effective mosquito bite remedies include applying toothpaste to the affected area. It can eliminate the itching sensation quickly. Many people also rub aloe onto the affected area to reduce swelling and itching. Aloe vera gel also helps heal the area and forms a protective layer to reduce possible infection. Some people even rub some saltwater directly onto the mosquito bite.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)