5 Insect-Borne Tropical Diseases + How to Avoid ThemBy Sarah Stefanson [Health & Your Life]
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When travelling to an exotic locale, be careful not to let one of these bugs bite. Sarah Stefanson fills you in on the greatest risks.  Tropical countries are home to a variety of insects that carry diseases we don’t have to worry about at home. When you are travelling in Central or South America, Africa or South East Asia, you need to know the risks involved with bug bites, many of which may go beyond a mild nuisance. Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and even caterpillars can prove to be harmful and possibly deadly in these exotic locales.Prevention Is the Best Medicine When travelling in tropical counties, every effort should be made to reduce the chances of insect bites that could carry lethal diseases. Take the following precautions to protect yourself: Cover as much skin as possible with clothing that is light in colour (dark colours attract mosquitoes), especially between dusk and dawn when most insects are active. Your clothing can also be treated with a special insect repellent. Sleeping in screened areas or in air-conditioned rooms will help, but your best bet is to always use a repellent-treated mosquito net to keep bugs at bay while you rest. Apply insect repellent to any exposed skin, especially between dusk and dawn. Repellents containing DEET are the most effective. The concentration of DEET in a product relates to how long the protection will last, but anything higher than 50 per cent DEET will provide little advantage and may have a risk of toxicity. Malaria Malaria is perhaps the biggest threat to your health when travelling in parts of Asia, Africa and South America. It is a flu-like illness caused by one of four species of parasite and is usually transmitted through mosquito bites. If you are travelling in areas where malaria is considered endemic (constantly present) you should watch for symptoms including fever and flu-like symptoms (headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain), severe shakes or muscle spasms and chills. A definitive diagnosis of malaria can only be obtained through a blood test, but if any of these symptoms present themselves during your travels or up to three months after your return, you should seek medical treatment immediately. Some forms of malaria can cause serious symptoms such as enlargement of the spleen and tenderness of the liver, while cerebral malaria affects the brain and causes personality change, fatigue, confusion and seizures. The most severe species of the malaria parasite can cause seizures, coma, kidney and respiratory failure and, eventually, death. Anti-malaria pills are available, but they may not be 100 per cent effective, so further precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. |
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