Facts you should know about Insect borne diseases

Jul 07, 2024 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists, News

Dr. Zulfikar Bux

Emergency Medicine Specialist

Kaieteur News – Being a tropical country, Guyana harbors quite a range of insects. We are exposed to these insects on a daily basis and it’s inevitable that we may get bitten by an insect at some point. The challenge lies in knowing if you would have contracted an illness from an insect bite. Today, we will shed some light on insect borne diseases. Hopefully, it will help to decrease your chances of getting an insect borne illness.

What are insect-borne diseases?

Insect-borne diseases are viral and bacterial illnesses from insect (bug) bites. The most common insects that pass on disease are mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, and fleas. For example, mosquitoes are known for spreading the Zika virus, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Malaria. Ticks cause lyme disease but we do not have to worry about that in Guyana. In our interior we do have sandflies that can cause serious diseases such as leishmaniasis and jiggers.

What are some symptoms of insect-borne diseases?

Symptoms will vary depending upon the type of insect that has bitten you. Common symptoms of insect borne diseases can include:

fever
chills
headache
sore muscles
skin rash
nausea
stomach pain

More serious symptoms can include:

difficulty breathing
the feeling that your throat is closing
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face
chest pain
a racing heartbeat that lasts more than a few minutes
dizziness
vomiting

What causes insect-borne diseases?

The diseases are caused by blood-sucking insects that infect humans or animals when they bite. You increase your risk of being infected by an insect when you are in areas where they gather. This would include tall grass, bushes, spots near still water (ponds), and places that are getting heavy outbreaks.

How are insect-borne diseases diagnosed?

Your doctor can typically diagnose an insect-borne disease by examining you, a review of your symptoms, and a look at your recent travel destinations. Lab tests (blood and urine) can diagnose certain insect-borne diseases.

Can insect-borne diseases be prevented?

There are many actions you can take to reduce the threat of being infected by an insect, including:

Stay out of tall grass and bushes.
Dress in long pants, long sleeves, and a hat if you must be in tall grass and bushes. Tuck your pants into long, white socks.
Wear light-colored clothing. This makes it easier to spot insects.
Use bug spray that contains the ingredient DEET.
Examine your skin and scalp when you get back in to check for bugs or bites. Always shower with plenty of soap after being outdoors.
Avoid places that are getting outbreaks.
Ensure you use a footwear when you are walking isolate/hinterland areas

How are insect-borne illnesses treated?

As soon as you recognize a bite, clean it with soap and water. Pat it dry and apply rubbing alcohol to the bite. If you were bitten by a tick, remove the tick before cleaning the area. Use tweezers to slowly pull it off your skin. Be careful not to leave any part of the tick on your skin. Dispose of the tick. Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water and wipe with alcohol. Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the bite area.

If you have any of the symptoms listed, see your doctor. Your doctor may give you a prescription for antibiotic medicine. Take the entire prescription. Your doctor may suggest other treatments that ease the symptoms. For example, over-the-counter pain medicine can relieve sore muscles and a fever.

Some insect-borne diseases may be self-limiting while others can cause long-term symptoms that affect your quality and can even kill you. Lyme disease, for example, can leave you with sore muscles and fatigue. Zika virus can be passed on to a baby and cause microcephaly (small head) and an intellectual disability. Malaria and dengue can kill you if left untreated or can damage some of your organs. Chikungunya can cause long term joint pains.

While the odds of survival are on your side, your best chance of surviving lies in avoiding an insect bite as much as you can. Take preventive actions if you think you are likely to be exposed to insects.

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borne, diseases, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Insect

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