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kristincaliendo
Q: 

Do mosquitos prefer certain blood types?

By Guide September 16, 2014 - 5:45pm
 
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My son and I always get a ton of bug bites when my husband and daughter don't get a single one. 

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kristincaliendo
Guide

Thank you so much Pat!  There's a lot of great information here, thank you for taking the time to provide it for me and others! 

With all the rain we have been having here in the Southwest, mosquitos have been at an unusual and all time high! I swear that I have gone through 10 tubes of hydrocortisone cream!!

I was wondering if anyone in the community may have some other remedies for the itching associated with mosquito bites??

Thank you again Pat!

Kristin

September 17, 2014 - 1:10pm

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Erin Kennedy
Empowered

How interesting!! I've always wondered this too. I have Type B blood so I land in the middle, but one of my friends seems to always get mosquito bites. I'll have to check what blood type she is to see if that's why.

September 17, 2014 - 9:06am

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Pat Elliott
Empowered
Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger

Hi Kristin and thanks for your question!

Actually, mosquitoes do have preferences. Lab studies have shown that about 20% of the population is more attractive to mosquitoes - and thus bitten more often.

So what attracts them? You asked about blood type, and that does matter. One study found mosquitoes landed on people with Type O blood nearly twice as often as those with Type A, while those with Type B blood fell in the middle.

Other studies have identified additional factors that influence what attracts mosquitoes. James Day, a medical entomologist at the University of Florida, told NBC News in an interview that mosquitoes use vision and scent to locate humans, and wearing colors that make you stand out may make you easier to find. 
If you want in-depth information, please see "Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others?" from Smithsonian Magazine. 
No matter what the reason, mosquito bites can be unpleasant and in areas susceptible to West Nile Virus they can be a health hazard. I think you'll find this article from the EmpowHER community very helpful for your family: Mosquitoes: What To Do When They Love You.
This article provides very helpful information on West Nile Virus and how to avoid both mosquito bites and the virus.
What do you and your family members do to avoid mosquitoes? If you have any special tips we'd love to hear from you, and we hope the information we've shared is helpful to you, your husband and your children.
Best,
Pat


September 16, 2014 - 6:17pm

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