By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness:
Besides the fact that mosquito bites itch like crazy, there’s a slight chance you could catch West Nile virus. So be careful.
How to prevent them: Get rid of any standing water or overgrown weeds around your home, where mosquitoes congregate. Cover up as much of your body as you can stand. Use an insect repellent with DEET, a chemical pesticide that bugs hate. Adults should use one with 30 percent DEET on the label; children between six months and 12 years old should only use one with 10 percent. If they’re younger than 2, only put the repellant on them once a day, and three times a day if they’re under 12. Don’t ever put it on the face or hands.
If you get bit: Put on some calamine lotion or add just enough water to baking soda make a paste, and slather it on. If you’re not feeling well several days later, check with your doctor to see if you have an infection.
