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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Common signs and symptoms
Typical signs and symptoms of mosquito bites include:
- Soft, initially pale bumps on your skin that can become red
- Itching
The bump that results from a bite can appear immediately or may take up to two days to appear. Bumps generally range in size from 0.12 inches (0.3 centimeters) to 0.39 inches (1 centimeter) in diameter and are present between two and 10 days. If you're highly sensitive to mosquito bites, you may have a much larger area of itching.
Severe allergic reaction
Rarely, you may have a serious reaction to mosquito bites, which results in swelling in the throat, significant hives and wheezing. This life-threatening condition (anaphylaxis) requires immediate medical attention.
Mosquito-borne disease
Mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever. Signs and symptoms of a more serious infection may include:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Body aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Rash
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light
- Jaundice
These signs and symptoms may indicate West Nile fever or another serious infection. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important.
