How to stop malaria itching?

Malaria is a notorious disease that brings millions of people across the globe to their knees. The hallmark symptom of this disease is fever, but one thing that really puts people in agony is malaria itching. Mosquitoes that carry this parasite not only feast on your blood but leave you scratching your skin relentlessly for days.

Don’t worry; we got this covered! We have compiled some practical tips that will help you ease the torture and stop malaria itching once and for all. Without further ado, let’s delve into these tips!

Cool down with cold compresses

When an insect bites, it triggers an inflammatory response mechanism from our body’s immune system (1). This defense mechanism causes swelling and redness around the bite area accompanied by itchiness (2). To alleviate such symptoms effectively, ice packs or cool compresses are a perfect solution.

  • Grab a few ice cubes.
  • Wrap them using a cloth.
  • Place them on the affected areas
  • Repeat several times daily

This method helps soothe mosquito bites as well as reduce inflammation in case of more severe allergic reactions caused by mosquitoes carrying diseases like malaria.

Take over-the-counter medications

Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers or antihistamines (drugs used to relieve allergies) can be lifesavers when it comes to managing irritating mosquito bites (3). These drugs work by reducing pain and stopping histamine production respectively which cause swelling, itching or other allergic reactions:

Name Purpose
Acetaminophen Used for fever reduction/ mild pain relief
Ibuprofen Reduce inflammation/pain reliever
Diphenhydramine Histamine blocker/allergy medication

It’s always best practice to discuss with your doctor before taking any medicine especially if you have any underlying medical conditions (4).

Hydrocortisone Creams

For those who want rapid relief from itching, hydrocortisone cream is another OTC option. It’s used to relieve swelling and itchiness around the bite area. This medication could also reduce redness in case of very inflamed skin (5).

To use, follow these three steps;

  1. Clean your affected areas with mild soap and rinse water.
  2. Apply a small amount of hydrocortisone cream directly on each swollen or itchy spot.
  3. Massage gently until fully absorbed

It should not be applied for more than two weeks at a stretch without consulting your doctor first, though this medication has some side effects like skin thinning etc., which most people tolerate well (6).

Mixed Vaseline-mint remedy

This exotic mixture works wonders in reducing mosquito bites’ symptoms as both mint oil’s cool fragrance and petroleum jelly create an effective barrier between allergy triggering substances (like histamines) and sensitive human skins (7)!

  • Get yourself 2 cups of petroleum jelly
  • Add one tablespoonful peppermint oil drops into it
  • Mix them thoroughly

Strain the paste into an empty container using cheesecloth before applying it directly onto your crusted malaria-infected wounds with non-greasy hands for long-lasting relief across all seasons!

Bathe in Epsom salts solution

Well known for its therapeutic qualities over time, Epson salt is ideal when dealing with inflammation related ailments such as insect bites up to stiff muscles among others alike[8].

Prepare An Epsom Salt Bath:

  1. Pour roughly half-cupful Epsom salts crystals under running hot/warm water flow.
  2. Gently Agitate/ stir the bathwater till dissolved completely; then immerse yourself for about 25 minutes.
  3. Pat your skin dry to make sure it doesn’t get irritated more after the bath.

It works soothingly on inflamed mosquito bites as well, in a manner of treating general inflammation and reducing stress levels[9].

Witch Hazel extract

Witch hazel is an alcohol solution that has natural therapeutic abilities and can be used both externally or internally depending upon the underlying medical conditions. It possesses tannins that are astringent in nature meaning they have the ability to shrink tissues requiring anti-inflammatory, antifungal or healing effects over time (10).

  • Get some cotton pads/swabs handy
  • Apply witch hazel extracts onto swab/pad directly.
  • Dab gently on affected areas for 2 minutes until relieving cream naturally dries .

Note: Some individuals may experience allergic reactions so seek help from medical professionals’ advice before applying this remedy liberally even though most folks use it safely for thousands of years already!

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil comes from a renowned Australian tree variety whose leaves harbor antimicrobial properties due to its organic compound presence (11). Applying tea-tree based products accelerates malaria itch removal by providing much-needed relief found lacking with other remedies; additional benefits include staunching infection sources too!

Obtaining Even-Radiant Skin Embellished With Tea Tree Oil Is As Simple As;

  1. Wipe down suspected bite areas using rubbing alcohol disinfectants.
  2. Dilute pure essential oils ratio (one part tea-tree + three parts carrier) such as coconut or sesame ones preferably especially if you have sensitive skin type;
  3. Soak cotton balls tips with mixed combinations diffusing smelly insectoid marks .
    4.Roll them lightly over heated patches.

It’s thrilling how employing just a few drops could work wonders thereby curbing fever symptoms via its cooling sensation embracing human scalps alike (12)!!

Aloe Vera application

There’s nothing like the green color and slight cooling effect of aloe vera on any itch management attempt. This plant has also been known to have diverse healing abilities treating skin rash, burns as well as sunburns leaving you feeling refreshed instantly due to its antioxidant properties (13).

Here are essential steps:

  1. Collect fresh aloe vera juice/gel
  2. Apply directly onto mosquito bites or other affected areas.
  3. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing with cold water simultaneously rejuvenating your skin thereafter[14]..

Keep your surroundings clean

You can reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes by making where you live less attractive as hide-outs: They love damp ,dark and warm areas; stagnant waters too near homes (15).

Therefore, try eliminating standing water around home reducing breeding grounds significantly replenishing yourself moodwise in addition to preventing malaria infections all round which lead otherwise no doubt!

  • Replace any leaking faucets/pipes
  • Upgrade old window screens/unplug broken ones
  • Invest in natural insect repellants/candies containing Thymol applied underneath of patio doors
  • Reduce outdoor bright lights often attracting bugs

There is so much that anyone could do despite Malaria being recognized worldwide but practicing these few tips would definitely cripple Mosquitoes’ swarming hence becoming shielded from further attacks spicing up lives once more!

So why wait? Go ahead and give them a try today!

Happy Scratching-Free Days Ahead!

References
(1) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
(2) https://www.webmd.com/allergies/mosquito-bites
(3) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682578.html#:~:text=Antihistamines%20relieve%20symptoms%20of%20allergies,itching%2C%20and%20hives.
(4) https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hydrocortisone-skin-cream/
(5) http://vianacare.com/blog/how-to-use-hydrocortisone-cream-for-mosquito-bites
(6) https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/Hydrocortisone-Cream.html
(7) https://labmuffin.com/diy-how-to-medicated-vaporub-homemade-version-of-vicks-vaporub/#:~:text=Peppermint%20oil&text=Menthol’s%20cooling,somebody’s+fingers+with+a+cold+virus.
(8)
https: //epsomsaltcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/circulation-and-general-inflammation.pdf#:~:
:text=Epsom%20salt.%E2 %80 %9CEverything%E2:
another mosquito bite or other bug bites:(15?) ://www.bromleysenvironmental.co.nz/mosquitos-preventing-breeding/.

Random Posts