Mosquito Bites Sending Oklahomans To The Doctor

Mosquitoes are swarming Green Country. Experts predict they'll be the worst Wednesday night between nine and midnight. News On 6 anchor Terry Hood reports parents say this summer's mosquitoes

Wednesday, July 25th 2007, 4:00 pm

By: News On 6

Mosquitoes are swarming Green Country. Experts predict they'll be the worst Wednesday night between nine and midnight. News On 6 anchor Terry Hood reports parents say this summer's mosquitoes are bigger, more aggressive and more widespread, and their children are being caught in the crossfire of this bug battle.

Give little Anna both hands, and she still won't be able to count all her bug bites.

"She had this one on her arm that I thought was healed, and I'd been keeping a band-aid over it, then today when I took her to daycare, she scratched it and it looks infected now too," said mother Susie Lye.

Susie Lye says mosquitoes in her back yard are a lot worse than they ever have been. Anna was just getting over a batch of bites she got at Grandma's, when the bugs came back for seconds.

"Last night, before she went to bed, they were really hot, and real red, and a little pussie looking, so I thought we ought to take her to the doctor just to get 'em checked out," Lye said.

Young Addison's bug bites came with a fever and swelling.

"Her hands got a little swollen because she got a few bites on her hands, so the next day they were real puffy. Her face, just everywhere looked kinda puffy," said mother Michelle Perez.

Michelle Perez says her 2-year-old can't resist running through the yard or splashing in the pool. Just give her a chance and she'll jump in, but mosquitoes can't seem to resist her either.

"Kids want to play, they want to play in the pool, with their friends, and they get bored inside, they can't stay inside all the time,â€ Perez said. â€œIt just stinks those bugs, those darned bugs."

"The West Nile virus is the one that we worry about. Haven't seen that in this community yet, thank goodness," pediatrician Dr. Donna Krutka said.

Dr. Donna Krutka says parents' best bet is a bug spray with DEET. Anna's mom usually keeps her coated, but just 30 minutes without, and she was nearly eaten alive. Now Anna's scratching, which can cause even more problems.

"Once they scratch, then they get the opening of the skin, then you can get infection," said Krutka.

Dr. Krutkaâ€™s Mosquito Tips:

Promoxine helps with itching

Try hydrocortizone for swelling, or just something cold

Natural Mosquito Repellants

Citronella

Cinnamon oil

Rosemary oil

Dr. Krutka says the natural mosquito repellants does not work as well as a bug spray with DEET. She says the most important thing to remember is to check the concentration of DEET. If your spray only has a low percentage of it you'll need to reapply more often. But she says with good prevention, you won't need any of her other remedies.

To check the mosquito forecast in your area, click here.

For more on mosquito prevention, click here.

Watch the video: Mosquito Problem Driving People Buggy