Are mosquitoes biting you more than your friends?

Do mosquitoes prefer to bite certain humans over others? Seems to be true when different people in a group at an outdoor gathering respond differently to the buzzing menace.

Dr Laxman Jessani, Consultant, Infectious Disease Specialist, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, says several studies have found different triggers.

“Generally speaking, mosquitoes appear to be more attracted to people with blood type O than other blood types, A being the least,” Dr Jessani said.

Blood group O, though bitten often, are far less likely to get severe malaria than those with other blood groups if they are bitten by the malaria bug carrying Anopheles.

Bacteria on our feet and body chemicals are some of the other factors that make some of us more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

“In the end, whatever be the reason, make sure you keep mosquitoes away now that dengue season is upon us with the rains," advised Dr Jessani.