Mosquito-borne diseases: Symptoms to watch out for

Let’s face it – there’s nothing more interesting in life than traveling. All of us like to spend some time going to new locations and exploring exotic cultures and places. However, regardless of how much of an adventurer you are; we advise that you take some precautions before you travel, especially in terms of potential medical issues. For example; depending on where you’re going, you may need to read up on mosquito-borne diseases and their usual symptoms. Don’t worry, though; we’re here to catch you up!

Mosquito Bite 101

Obviously, in many cases, a mosquito bite isn’t serious; it doesn’t represent anything more than an itch that’s temporary, and likely to go away within the next day. But in certain places that you may travel to, the female mosquito doesn’t just suck the blood out of her unknowing victim; but also exposes the victim to all manners of dangerous and life-threatening diseases.

Now, since mosquito bites aren’t usually that devastating, and amount to nothing more than a passing annoyance; some people won’t immediately connect some of the symptoms we’re going to talk about here to a horrible disease. For instance, a headache that happens a couple of days after a mosquito bite may seem inconsequential, and nothing much to worry about. But if you’re in an area where mosquitos are known to transmit diseases; pass information about any potential symptoms along to your physician. Acting timely on your part could mean a world of difference between the best possible diagnosis and being too late to make a difference.

Basic Symptoms

So, now that we’ve got this disclaimer about being careful out of the way; what are the actual symptoms that you need to be on the lookout for in risky areas for mosquito-borne diseases? These are:

•     Fever
•     Fatigue
•     Headache

We should make sure you realize this – taking the necessary precautions isn’t just important while your mosquito bite heals. Even after its gone, it could still have been the source of a potentially dangerous illness. So, if you’ve traveled to an area where mosquito-borne illnesses often have outbreaks in the recent period; make sure you have a doctor look at it.

Most Common Mosquito-Related Illnesses

Now that we’ve got the basic forms of the symptoms covered, let’s have a look at what the specific illnesses to watch out for are, as well as the particular symptom combinations. So, if you’ve traveled to any kind of exotic location recently, watch out for:

West Nile Virus

The infamous West Nile Virus counts among those that mosquitoes spread via their bites. And believe us, this is a dangerous one. If you don’t get treatment on time, this can easily lead to a possibly fatal brain inflammation called meningitis. The symptoms of this include severe nausea, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, body and back aching, as well as headaches, fatigue, and fever. Interestingly enough, this is the leading among all of the mosquito-transmitted diseases found in citizens of the United States.

Chikungunya

Here we’ve got a mosquito-transmitted virus that’s more common for Asia; though, in recent years, it has also spread to other areas. To be more specific, a case of the virus has been diagnosed in the area and coastlands around the Carribean in 2013. This is a nasty virus that can cause an annoying rash, swelling and pain in joints, headaches, fatigue, and high fever. Crucially, there is no specific cure for the Chikungunya as of yet, and doctors treat the illness symptomatically; meaning that mosquito repellent in risky areas is your best bet when it comes to prevention.

Malaria

Here we come to the big one – Malaria! This disease is one of the most famous ones carried by mosquitoes, and for good reason; seeing as it’s potentially fatal. The eponymous parasite first infects the carrier mosquitoes. Then, the infection spreads to humans through the bite of the mosquito. You’ve probably heard of malaria before, seeing as it’s known to kill literally millions of people all around the planet on an annual basis. Possible symptoms include chills, anxiety, sweating, lowered body temperature, fatigue, and fever.

Yellow Fever

Speaking of fever, here is another nasty one – yellow fever. This is a virus that specifically infects the liver, making it quite serious. Mosquitos in South America and Africa most often carry it. And there are plenty of horrible symptoms, like pains, aching, redness of the eyes and face, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, and a big sensitivity to light.

Dengue Fever

This is a dangerous virus, and it’s actually one of the most deadly diseases you could get from a mosquito. It’s known to surface in tropical climates, and patients get tons of symptoms like bleeding gums, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and pain behind their eyes, as well as general fatigue.

Arboviral Encephalitis.

Yes, this one is quite the mouthful, especially if you go by its full name. And this isn’t just about mosquitos; the arbovirus also gets transmitted by ticks as well as other pests – leading to victims suffering another kind of deadly brain inflammation. The most dangerous thing about this virus is the fact that you may not even notice it at first; the symptoms may seem like the common flu, including neck stiffness, headaches, lethargy, fatigue, and fever.

So, if you travel somewhere where mosquito bites are common, and one of them bites you; pay close attention to the development of your physical condition in the coming few days. Should you develop anything like fatigue, headaches, or a fever; you should definitely visit a physician right away. Sure, it could be nothing – but it could also be a severe disease for which you need immediate treatment. Keeping this in mind, pay close attention to the combinations of symptoms we’ve described here.

Source: pestcontrolreviews