What is the reaction after mosquito bite?

Is this mosquito bite allergic reaction not normal? And what can I do to help them go away?

• I haven't gotten a mosquito bit in years, since I live in a relatively dry place. But it's been abnormally humid this year with monsoons, and I got 11 mosquito bites while down by the creek a few days ago. They looked like little red bumps at first, but then they grew into red patches. The biggest ones are on my calves, the largest being 4 cm across. It's been 4 days and they haven't been showing signs of improvement. I haven't been scratching them, and I've been putting Chinese ointment along with hydrocortisone cream on them. What do I do to make them go away? Picture: (a tad gross) http://i55.tinypic.com/24drjf8.jpg Oh, and what level of reaction would this be considered? Mild or moderate? (I know it's not severe... otherwise my entire limb would be swelling).

• Answer:

  Those aren't the worst mosquito bites I've ever seen, but they look pretty bad. I used to react really badly to bites, they would get up to 4" diameter and would swell so much they would leave bruises. Not scratching is good, taking a Zyrtec or Claritin in addition to the hydrocortisone cream might help. Also, icing them sometimes takes away some of the discomfort and swelling. For future reference, right after you get a mosquito bite wash it with soap and water. This seems to get some of the saliva out and it always makes my mosquito bites much milder. You have to do it pretty soon after the bite though. Good luck, and next time, Deet :P