Did you know there is an actual disorder for severe reactions to mosquito bites? Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing a child with a mosquito bite on their face that has swollen to the size of a baseball. Sometimes it looks like they were abused or beaten, but it was caused by a simple mosquito bite. Whenever I have mentioned this syndrome in conversation, I tend to get a skeptical look. I have to say, the name does sound made up to me too, but it is a real syndrome recognized by the medical community. 

Skeeter Syndrome is characterized by swelling and pain at the bite location, fever, itchiness, blistering, hives and swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes the bites can even cause Cellulitis which can be very dangerous if left untreated. Young children and those with compromised immune systems are the most affected by this syndrome. When we are chatting with customers, they just tell us they are "allergic to mosquitoes" not realizing there is a disorder connected with their reactions. There are several treatment options such as steriod creams, antihistamines, and antibiotics. But, the best option is to avoid being bitten but that's not always possible. Here are some resources that we've found helpful:

WebMD: Skeeter Syndrome
Facebook Support Group: Skeeter Syndrome
Healthline: Symptoms
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology