Do you or someone else you know react abnormally to bug bites? I've had a few unpleasant experiences with deer flies, horse flies, black flies, sand flies, no-see-ums (these they're a thing) and mosquitoes. Let's take a look at the mosquito...

Mosquito allergy, also known as mosquito bite hypersensitivity or skeeter syndrome, is a condition characterized by an abnormal immune response to mosquito bites. Many people experience mild itching and redness at the site of a mosquito bite, but those with a mosquito allergy may develop more severe symptoms.

When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva into the skin. This contains proteins to help prevent blood clotting. One of the proteins secreted in the saliva is called anophelin. It blocks your coagulation enzyme called thrombin. For people with mosquito allergies, the immune system thinks these proteins are harmful and triggers a reaction, leading to the release of histamine and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of mosquito allergy can vary in severity and may include:

Intense itching
Swelling
Redness and inflammation
Blistering
Severe systemic reactions

What type of reactions do you have?