If you develop fever, severe headache, body aches, confusion, or a rash in the days after a mosquito bite, seek medical attention. These can be signs of a mosquito-borne illness like West Nile virus.
Most mosquito bites are nothing more than itchy and annoying. They will go away in a few days. Knowing that is useful, but it’s even more useful to know when a bite might be something that really matters.
The usual mosquito bite will result in redness, swelling, and itching where you are bitten. It’s at its worst a day or two after it happens and goes away on its own. Some people, kids particularly, react more strongly, with larger areas of swelling. This can look alarming, but is often nothing more than an immune overreaction to the mosquito’s saliva. It’s uncomfortable, but not dangerous per se.
That said, if you develop a fever within 2–14 days of a bite, that’s worth attention. West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in Michigan. It can cause fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, and in rare serious cases, neurological symptoms like confusion, stiff neck, or muscle weakness. Most people who catch West Nile virus never show symptoms. But those who do need medical evaluation.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is rare in Michigan but it’s a lot more dangerous since it progresses quickly and can cause severe brain inflammation. Michigan has seen periodic outbreaks, and Grand Rapids is within the geographic range where EEE-carrying mosquitoes have been found. The early symptoms resemble West Nile virus, but may also include vomiting and diarrhea.
Beyond West Nile virus and EEE, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for secondary infection at the bite site. If a bite becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen, or develops pus, it might be infected. This is usually from scratching that breaks the skin. This is treatable with antibiotics, but shouldn’t be ignored.
If you're tired of dealing with mosquitoes on your Grand Rapids property, Mosquito Squad of Grand Rapids can help. Mosquito Squad reduces the mosquito population across your yard by up to 90% for 21 days at a time. That means you can expect far fewer bites, and along with this reduction in bites, a reduction in risk.
