While a mosquito might just be an annoying bug that buzzes uncomfortably in your ear during the summer, its real impact is much more astounding. These flying beasts are capable of carrying deadly diseases that can impact millions of people around the world. Today, we will look at the most widespread mosquito-borne diseases, their symptoms, and how to prevent them.
Understanding Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Mos transmit deadly or harmful diseases to humans: First of all these diseases are:
1. Malaria
The disease is caused by parasites belonging to the Plasmodium genus, which are spread by the bloodsucking female Anopheles mosquito. The malarial disease causes fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms, and if untreated it can be serious or even fatal.
2. Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus and spread by Aedes mosquitoes. The dengue virus is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. The disease often starts with high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, and, sometimes, bleeding. In severe cases, dengue can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life-threatening.
3. Zika Virus
The virus is spread mostly by the Aedes mosquito (as well as by sexual transmission), and usually causes mild symptoms – rash, fever, body aches, and sore joints. Zika infection can also lead to serious birth defects, including microcephaly, in which a baby’s head is smaller than normal.
4. Chikungunya
Aedes mosquitoes also transmit chikungunya, a viral disease with symptoms such as fever and severe joint pain (the name means ‘that which bends up’, a reference to the characteristic arching of chikungunya sufferers’ joints). Although not usually fatal, chikungunya’s joint pain can linger for months and years.
5. West Nile Virus
Culex mosquitoes are the primary spreaders of West Nile virus, which most commonly causes no symptoms, but can also manifest as fever, headache, body aches, and in rare cases encephalitis or meningitis.
6. Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is an acute hemorrhagic illness caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes. While the black rat is capable of transmitting the virus, it is not sub-tropically adapted and is not a significant carrier. Yellow fever occurs in parts of Africa and South America where it causes fevers, chills, loss of appetite, and muscle pain. More severe cases can cause tissue damage in the liver, which leads to jaundice. In large doses, the disease is fatal without medical treatment.
Symptoms to Watch For
These symptoms vary from disease to disease but often include fever, rash, and joint pain. Anyone returning from a high-risk area who develops these symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Malaria: Fever, chills, headaches, and vomiting.
- Dengue Fever: High fever, severe headache, retro-orbital pain, rash, and muscle pain.
- Zika Virus: Mild fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
- Chikungunya: High fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, and rash.
- West Nile Virus: Fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting.
- Yellow Fever: Fever, chills, poor appetite, muscle pain, and – if severe – jaundice and liver damage.
How to Protect Yourself
You can consider in the preventive methods of mosquito it bases as the risk factor of the mosquito-borne diseases has been decreased by preventing mosquitoes to bite people. First of all, wearing a full percentage of covering clothes decreases the touching of direct mosquitoes.
1. Use Insect Repellent
Use an insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and clothing, and follow product directions to reapply after swimming or sweating.
2. Wear Appropriate Clothing
If possible, cover exposed skin with long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and socks, and consider clothing treated with insect-repellent permethrin.
3. Avoid Peak Mosquito Activity
The peak activity time for disease-ridden mosquitoes is at dawn and dusk, so try to minimize outdoor activities then or take extra precautions if you must be out and about.
4. Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquito eggs are laid on the water’s surface. Check for standing water in flower pots and buckets, as well as shallow areas such as children’s pools, bird baths, and flower pot saucers. Make sure your gutters are clean and that your downspouts drain properly.
5. Use Mosquito Nets
Sleep under mosquito nets: If you’re in an area where a disease spread by mosquitoes or other insects is common, use mosquito nets over beds or sleeping areas, which is especially important in regions where malaria is prevalent.
6. Install Screens
Make sure your home has screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out and repair any holes in those screens.
7. Consider Mosquito Control Programs
In some areas, community mosquito control programs such as reducing the mosquito population with insecticide spraying or by releasing predators of mosquitoes are in operation.
Vaccination and Treatment
For some mosquito-borne diseases, vaccines are available:
- Yellow Fever: The yellow fever vaccine is very effective. It’s recommended for travelers to endemic areas.
- Dengue Fever: The vaccine against dengue fever is available in some countries for people between 9 and 45 years of age, especially in countries where it is high-risk.
- Treatment for mosquito-borne diseases varies based on the illness:
- Malaria: Treated with antimalarial medications. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
- Dengue Fever: There is no specific treatment, but supportive care can help manage symptoms.
- Zika Virus: No specific treatment; supportive care is recommended.
- Chikungunya: Focus on pain relief and supportive care.
- West Nile Virus: Supportive care is typically required; severe cases may need hospitalization.
- Yellow Fever: Treatment focuses on supportive care; vaccination is preventive.
Mosquito-borne diseases can be really dangerous and vectors can significantly threaten the health of a population. Particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, awareness and knowledge of mosquito-borne diseases can reduce your risk of infection. If you know what mosquitoes can transmit, what the signs are when you’re infected, and you have a strategy for keeping these diseases at bay, then you can greatly reduce your risk of getting sick. Make sure you use insect repellants, wear protective clothing, eliminate standing water, and stay informed if there is a local mosquito problem. By carrying out a few simple tasks, you can keep mosquitoes and the diseases they spread at a distance!
