Mosquitos are small insects commonly found throughout the United States that need the blood of humans and animals to survive. Not all mosquitos bite people. It is only the females who need blood to produce eggs. Hundreds of different species of mosquitoes live in the US; the most typical reaction to their bite is itching and swelling. However, some mosquito species can act as vectors for small animals that spread diseases. Although not all mosquitoes transmit pathogens when they bite, it’s impossible to know which ones do and which do not, so it is better to be safe.

Although they are generally just a nuisance, mosquito control is critical because it only takes a few infected mosquitoes to start an outbreak of severe diseases like the West Nile Virus or Malaria. So keeping their populations under control in and around your house reduces the likelihood of someone in your household getting sick.

Although mosquito bites are not typically painful, they can quickly become unbearable as the insect’s saliva enters your bloodstream and triggers the itchy sensation that infamously represents how we think of mosquito bites. Reactions vary from person to person and can become more severe if the person is allergic; however, they are typically not a problem unless that mosquito is carrying a virus.

A big part of treating mosquito bites is relieving the itch– scratching your bite spreads the infection and can have unintended consequences. Instead, use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion on the affected area. These creams will help with swelling and draw out any excess liquid causing the reaction to relieve the itching. If you do not have hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion, use a baking soda paste (baking soda and water). It has an alkaline pH balance that will provide a similar effect.

Complications are not common with mosquito bites. The most frequent problem is an infection due to over-scratching the bite. If this happens, wash the bite with soap and water. Keep antibacterial ointment and relief cream applied and cover the affected area so you cannot scratch it.

The less common but much more severe complication comes from the pathogens you can contract from mosquitos. Although not everyone with a mosquito-borne pathogen gets sick, they can still spread the disease. Therefore, you must monitor your health after getting bitten. If you start experiencing cold-like symptoms, you should see a doctor.