Take preventive action to escape mosquitoes’ attacks

June 13, 2018

“A to Z from Our Family Medicine Doctors at UT East Texas” column

Published Wednesday, June 13, 2018, in the Gladewater Mirror

By: Matthew Cook, DO

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The warm East Texas weather means it’s time to tune up the air conditioner, tidy up the house, and get outside!

Summer weather lets us do some of the things we love most: fishing at the lake, swimming at the pool, roasting hot dogs around a growling, crackling, smoking campfire — Smack! Oh yeah, then there are the mosquitoes.

Besides leaving an itchy red spot on your skin and being annoying, mosquitoes can carry nasty diseases.

For example, the Zika virus has made the news over the past few years. In Texas, mosquitoes can also carry diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and chikungunya virus.

Zika can cause a fever, rash or joint pains, but four out of five people who get it won’t even know they are sick. However, it can be passed to an unborn baby and cause severe brain damage or even death.

That’s why it’s crucial for pregnant women and anyone who may become a parent (including men) to protect themselves against Zika.

The other viruses’ symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, and rash. Though most West Nile cases are mild, it can cause coma, tremors, convulsions, and even death in elderly people or those with chronic illnesses. Severe joint, muscle, and bone pain are the hallmarks of dengue and chikungunya.

The best way to avoid these diseases is to not get bitten.

Stay inside when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn and dusk. Wear long sleeves and pants. Finally, cover yourself with mosquito-repelling products containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil.

Remember, if any part of your skin isn’t covered, it’s not protected.

If you have any questions about preventing mosquito bites, see your family doctor or healthcare professional.