Mosquito bites and camping at the coast
Bites and
Stings brochure (105KB PDF)
During summer, it’s important to be extra
vigilant to avoid insect bites and stings, especially from mosquitos.
Mosquitos breed in summer around your home,
backyard and in bushland, if there is any water lying around, such as in ponds,
buckets or containers. Make sure you empty these and leave them dry so the mosquitos
have fewer places to breed.
The coast is also a breeding ground for
mosquitos with mangroves, rivers and lakes surrounding all popular family
camping grounds.
To prevent bites and protect your entire family’s
health from these annoying, disease-carrying insects, you should do the
following:
- Wear long, loose fitting and light coloured
clothing.
- Use a personal insect repellant particularly
during dusk and dawn when these insects are most active and looking for an
exposed arm or leg to bite. Ask your pharmacist about using these products on
babies and very young children.
- Install insect screens on all windows and doors,
and use mosquito nets around children’s beds or cribs if you live in a
particularly hot climate.
If you become unwell with a fever, rash or
joint pain following a mosquito bite you should seek medical advice as soon as
possible.
The most common sign of a mosquito bite is a
red, very itchy lump at the site. In some places such as your face, the bump
can become quite swollen as the area is generally more sensitive than your arms
and legs.
You can apply an anti-itch cream or calamine
lotion, both available from your pharmacy, to help relieve the itching and use
an ice pack to help reduce the swelling. Many people scratch too much causing
the skin to break and this can lead to an infection – try with all your might
to avoid scratching. In severe cases an antihistamine from your pharmacy will
help.
To reduce mozzie bites make sure you wear
long sleeved, light clothing and use insect nets, personal insect repellant and
citronella candles outdoors.
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