5 Insect-Borne Tropical Diseases + How to Avoid ThemBy Sarah Stefanson [Health & Your Life]
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 LeishmaniasisThis disease is a protozoan infection spread by the sandfly. There are two types of leishmaniasis: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin condition characterized by sores that can change in appearance over time and visceral leishmaniasis, which can cause fever, weight loss and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Over 90 per cent of visceral leishmaniasis cases are in the countries of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan and Brazil, but the disease can be found in 83 other countries. Sandflies are silent and tiny, so avoiding their bite is difficult. In addition to the above precautions, you should also avoid outdoor activity between dawn and dusk when they are most active. Sleeping Sickness Sleeping sickness, or African trypanosomiasis, is caused by a parasite carried by the tsetse fly. The disease is limited to rural areas of tropical Africa. Symptoms of infection can appear within one to three weeks of infection and initially include high fever, rash, edema, and swollen glands. As the disease progresses, it can result in encephalitis and meningitis. It can be fatal if untreated. They are attracted to moving vehicles and dark colours. There is no vaccine for sleeping sickness and tsetse flies are not affected by insect repellent. Dengue Dengue disease manifests in one of two ways: Dengue fever consists of an abrupt development of fever with other symptoms including headache, joint pain, muscle aches, and a slight rash. The fever is usually present for three to five days and generally no more than seven. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more serious infection and could result in death. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, intense abdominal pain, shock and bleeding from the nose or under the skin. Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes during the day and occurs more frequently during and after the rainy season or flooding in tropical and subtropical areas. Yellow Fever Yellow fever, like Dengue, is caused by the bite of daytime biting (Aedes) mosquitoes that feed on infected monkeys in the jungle or tropical rainforest areas of South America and Africa. Symptoms of the disease may take up to six days to present themselves and include sudden onset of fever, headache, joint pain, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and vomiting. The disease gets its name from the jaundicing effect that results from the infection attacking the patient’s liver. There is no treatment for yellow fever, so it may progress to showing symptoms of shock, bleeding and organ failure. In 30 per cent of cases, yellow fever results in death. A vaccine for the disease is available and is the best method of preventing transmission. ___________________________ the best defence Many of these illnesses are well understood and effective treatment is available, but you never know what you’ll run into in foreign lands. Recently, a Canadian woman proved just how dangerous the small creatures of tropical destinations can be when she died of complications resulting from stepping on venom-secreting caterpillars. So before you head out on a tropical vacation, especially if you plan to visit rural areas, get all the facts on your risks of contracting these and other insect-borne diseases. Receive any necessary vaccines before departure and make sure to take all of the precautions described above. Sources: Health Canada - Malaria Medicinenet.com - Leishmaniasis Medterms – Sleeping Sickness Health Canada – Denge Health Canada – Yellow Fever MSN – Venomous Caterpillars Nomad Travel – Insect Bourne Diseases |
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