Q: I noticed my child get bitten easily by bugs/mosquitoes/ants compared to other children. Can this be genetic?

Answered by: Dr Kama Azura binti Jamil, Consultant Paediatrician, Nilai Medical Centre

Mosquitoes are drawn to the heat from our skin. If your child is more active and emits more heat, he/she may attract more mosquitoes. Some of us produce more of certain chemicals in their skin such as lactic acid which attracts mosquitoes. There’s also evidence that blood type O attracts mosquitoes more than other blood types (A or B).

However, non-genetic factors such as age and gender may affect whether you get more or fewer bites than the other people around you. Dark coloured attire also attract mosquito bite. 

To prevent, you can let your child take a shower to keep him/her cool, and wear long-sleeved shirt and pants made of light cotton. That can help to ease the itch and prevent from getting insect bites.