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"   Question Why do my ankles swell as a result of mosquito bites?  The bites are not always on my legs! This tends to happen when I go abroad on holiday (usually to Spain), although I recently suffered these same symptoms having been bitten at home.  Antihistamine tablets help slightly with the severe swelling around the area of the bite (sometimes this swelling is so bad that flexing the affected area can be difficult), but not with the swollen ankles.  I know I need to lose some weight and since quitting smoking in January I have lost 8lbs.  However I do not think it is a weight issue since the swelling (in the ankles) can often be only on the same leg as the bite.   Answer Biting insects are usually after a meal, and they suck your blood to satisfy their needs.  To allow the blood to flow easily, they pass substances that prevent the blood from clotting in the area around the bite.  It is these chemicals and proteins that the insect injects under your skin which produce a local reaction on your legs that result in swelling.  Your observation that antihistamines help you suggests that you are forming a histamine reaction to the bites.  This causes seeping of fluid into the tissues around the site where the insect has injected you.  Sometimes, people react strongly to the presence of insect venom and protein, and occasionally our defensive cells are not readily able to combat the dirt and bacteria that the insect injects into us. When this happens, the limb will become hot and swollen and red due to the spread of infection.  Since you are so prone to react to bites, I suggest that you do take non-sedating antihistamine tablets on holiday.  But, you will be wise to take all possible precautions to avoid being bitten. These include the wearing of long trousers and a button-up neck-line, as well as socks, as dusk approaches.  And, in many places in the world, it is wise to sleep under a mosquito net.  Your sincerely, The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As A red rash from suncream Allergies and eczema Allergies exposed to the sun Cement burns Cosmetics allergy Heat-related allergy Hives I blush excessively \u2013 is there an operation to help with this? I have a nasty rash on my legs Is my itching due to an allergy to the preservative in cotton? Itchy feet Knee problems and rashes after shower My face becomes red and swollen after I drink wine Photosensitivity Prickily heat problems Problems with belly button piercing Reaction to mosquito bites Reaction to waxing Really bad prickly heat Red itchy rash Red, sore area underneath my breasts Tolu balsam Urticaria What is lupus? White patches all over my back and arms Why is my bottom so itchy?  Last updated 01.02.2011 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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