- By Prerna Targhotra
- Tue, 20 Aug 2024 05:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Health Risks Of Mosquito Bites: Mosquito, meaning ‘small fly’ in Spanish, belongs to the family Culicidae. The female mosquito bites the human to take nutrients. They are attracted by body odours, carbon dioxide, and heat emitted by a person or animal. Different species vary in their preferred places to feed and rest; and in biting hours.
Mosquito bite releases histamine and cytokines, substances that cause the itching and wheals associated with mosquito bites which can be very irritating. There is a more serious risk from mosquitoes as they serve as vectors, or carriers, for several diseases. The most prominent mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted by three genera of mosquitoes – Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles. Dr. Pankaj Soni, Principal Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Escorts, Okhla Road, New Delhi explains about various types of mosquitoes and the health hazards of mosquito bites on humans.
The Aedes mosquitoes are the carriers of many viral diseases including Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow fever, and Rift Valley disease. Culex mosquitoes, also known as common house mosquitoes, are the vectors that spread the viruses that cause West Nile fever, St. Louis encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis. They can also transmit the parasitic disease lymphatic filariasis and the bacterial disease Tularemia. Anopheles mosquitoes are best known for spreading malaria.
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Health Risks Of Mosquito Bites
Dengue is the most common vector-borne viral disease in the world. There are four types of dengue viruses, and they belong to a class of viruses known as flaviviruses – the family that also includes the West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Dengue fever is characterised by high fever, headache, joint pain, and rash. A more severe form, dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause bleeding and shortness of breath and can be fatal.
Chikungunya virus causes fever and rash, as well as joint pain which can be debilitating and last for weeks. Yellow fever virus most commonly causes fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea.
Dangers Of Mosquito Bites (Image Credits: Canva)
Zika virus causes no symptoms or a mild disease that may involve fever, rash, and joint pain in most people who become infected. However, the disease can cause severe neurological defects, the commonest being microcephaly in the developing foetuses of pregnant women who are infected with the Zika virus.
Malaria symptoms can include fever with chills and rigour and flu-like illness, headache, muscle aches and tiredness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Preventing mosquito bites by using the right insect repellent which is safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. If using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second. Wear clothing that covers hands, arms, legs and other exposed skin. Remove standing water to reduce places where mosquitoes lay eggs.
