There's no doubt about it: Mosquitoes are annoying. What's worse, their bites sometimes transmit serious diseases, such as West Nile virus.

While your risk of getting diseases from mosquitoes is low, your risk of being annoyed by mosquitoes is high. In fact, mosquitoes may be so annoying that you don't even enjoy spending time outdoors. Although mosquitoes are most prevalent at dawn and dusk, it's not always possible or desirable to stay indoors during those periods — they may be peak time for fun activities.

But you can take steps to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay, no matter what time of day it is. With some basic steps, you and your family may spend less time scratching itchy bites and more time at playgrounds, ball games or backyard barbecues.

Insect repellents are one good way to keep mosquitoes at bay. When used properly, repellents are safe for kids and adults alike. Keep in mind that even though some of them are classified as pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), repellents don't kill mosquitoes. So you may still see the pesky critters buzzing about. Repellents simply make you more difficult to find.

Common insect repellents include:

• DEET. This pesticide has long been the insect repellent of choice in the United States. DEET blocks a mosquito's ability to find people who've applied it.
• Picaridin. This pesticide offers protection that's comparable to DEET at similar concentrations. It also blocks a mosquito's ability to find people who've applied it. Picaridin is nearly odorless, which may make it a good alternative if you're sensitive to the smells of insect repellents.
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus. This plant-based chemical may offer protection that's comparable to low concentrations of DEET.
• Others. Shorter acting repellents — generally containing plant-based oils such as oil of geranium, cedar, lemon grass, soy or citronella — may offer limited protection.

Check the labels of insect repellent products to see which chemicals or other ingredients they contain. And be sure to follow the product's application guidelines.

What you wear can also help keep mosquitoes at bay. Clothing tips to keep in mind, particularly in areas that are heavily infested with mosquitoes, include:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts
• Wear socks
• Wear long pants and consider tucking your pants into your socks
• Wear light-colored clothing, since mosquitoes are more attracted to darker colors
• Wear a full-brimmed hat to protect your head and neck or a baseball cap with a fold-out flap to protect the back of your neck
• Consider wearing a mosquito net to cover your head and face or torso

Mosquitoes need stagnant or standing water to breed. Eliminate standing water, especially after rains, and you can reduce the mosquito population around your home and yard.

To eliminate standing water:

• Unclog roof gutters.
• If possible, empty wading pools and other children's pools at least once a week, and preferably more often.
• Change water in birdbaths at least weekly. You can also purchase devices to place in birdbaths that keep the water circulating so that mosquitoes won't lay eggs there.
• Get rid of old tires in your yard, since they collect water.
• If you keep unused containers, such as flower pots, in your yard, empty them regularly or store them upside down so that they can't collect water.
• If you have a fire pit, drain any collected water regularly.

Other methods of controlling mosquitoes also are popular, but their effectiveness is unproved. These other methods include:

• Electronic insect control systems, better known as bug zappers
• Citronella-scented candles
• Replacing outdoor lights with yellow bug lights
• Attracting birds and mammals that feed on mosquitoes, such as blue martins and bats

If a mosquito still finds you to be a tasty meal, use hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or a baking soda paste to ease the discomfort of an itchy bite. A cold pack or baggie filled with crushed ice may help, too.

If a mosquito bite seems to be causing more serious signs and symptoms — such as fever, severe headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, a rash, lethargy, confusion or sensitivity to light — contact your health care provider. These signs and symptoms may indicate West Nile fever or, rarely, encephalitis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important.