Summer is unarguably most people's favourite time of year. The sun is shining, school is out, holidays are taken, and every weekend there is the opportunity for barbeques and picnics. There is baseball and soccer and all sorts of sports activities. Swimming at the beach, camping and day trips. What fun!
But summer also has its draw backs –bug bites! In this day and age we need to be cautious about these. In recent years we have been on the watch for diseases carried by mosquitoes such as West Nile. Also there is a need to watch out for ticks that might carry Lyme disease. Here are some practical tips on preventing mosquito and tick bites!
The Dread Pirate of the Sky – the Mosquito
Mosquitoes carry viral diseases that many of us are not even aware of. While the occurrences of these diseases are often location specific the fact is that they are carried by these winged critters. Some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes include yellow fever; dengue fever; epidemic polyarthritis; Rift Valley fever; Ross River Fever; St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, LaCross encephalitis, and many other types of invasive diseases.
Mosquitoes are also responsible for malaria which is known to be the world's leading cause of premature death. 5.3 million people die each year from the Anopheles Mosquito – the mosquito that carries Malaria. Children under the age of five are the most likely to die from malaria. Fortunately for us here in North America Malaria is not usually found. Mosquitoes are also capable of carrying the filariasis worm which causes the disease Elephantiasis. Statistics state that there could be as many as 40 million people worldwide that are dealing with some form of Elephantiasis. For us in North America we know that the West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and can cause serious even fatal symptoms.
Children tend to swell up and turn red when they have been bitten by a pesky mosquito but as people get older they tend to build up immunity to mosquito bites and often are not even aware that they have been bitten. This means that adults are more likely to be infected by a mosquito born disease and be unaware of it. The United States Center for Disease Control says "The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill."
West Nile Virus
Perhaps the most notorious of the mosquito born illnesses in recent years West Nile Virus like malaria can result in death. Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands. While this illness can last as briefly as a few days some reports say it can last for several weeks. The more severe form of the disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. There is an estimation that 1 out of every 150 people that are infected with the West Nile virus will develop the severe form of the illness.
It important that we remember that these thirsty little blood suckers are out there and can be a threat to our health even our lives. Enjoy the warm weather, but remember that mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are already flying about looking for a warm lunch. So the question is what to do? First off is protecting yourself.
Bug Repellants
In addition to staying indoors as dawn or early in the evening and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when going outdoors bug repellants are a good way to prevent mosquito bites. There are many commercial sprays that work well but often they are laced with harsh chemicals. There are alternatives to chemical sprays and creams but it really can take some time to figure out which one works for you. It is important to find a bug repellant that works for you.
Bug repellant doesn't work if you don't us it. If you are looking for something a little more natural here is one that is made of natural ingredients and there is also a soothing bath for those who have had the misfortune to have been bitten.
Nature Walk Insect Repellent
8 tbsp Aloe Vera gel
8 tbsp very light skin lotion
Oils
1 ½ teaspoons Citronella oil
½ teaspoon eucalyptus oil
½ teaspoon patchouli oil
Pour all the ingredients into a bottle and shake well. As you shake bless it saying:
Though our insect friends are needed
In the air they go unheeded
But on our skin they sting and bite
And they hinder our delight
Of pine wood forest, of hill and dale
When we walk the nature trail
So when our feet walk on the trail
This soothing cream will prevail
Against the critters that make us swell
So I confirm by this here spell
My bug repellent will work quite well
Use liberally over the body avoid eyes and mouth areas.
Soothing Bug Bite Bath
Ingredients:
1 cup Epson Salts
¼ cup Baking Soda
1 tbs lavender
1 tbs chamomile
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
Directions:
Add the ingredients to an already running warm bath. To avoid floating herbs in your water make a bag out of cheese cloth or use a clean nylon stocking and place the herb inside. Soak in the water and submerge yourself in the water to sooth and ease the pain of bug bites.
Avoid Providing Breeding Grounds
Remember to check around your yard and dump out standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Mosquitoes can develop in as little as ¼ inch of standing water that lasts for seven to ten days. Here are some helpful tips for getting rid of standing water.
Dispose of discarded tires, cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or other unused similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by vegetation. | Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors. Drainage holes drilled in the sides of containers allow sufficient water to collect in which mosquitoes may breed. |
At least once per week, empty standing water from containers on your property, such as tire swings, or bird baths. | Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis |
Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Flooded roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce hundreds of mosquitoes each season. | Fill in low areas on your property to eliminate standing water. Ponds or streams where fish are present or the water is disturbed by current or wave action do not produce many mosquitoes. |
Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water. | Store boats covered or upside down, or remove rainwater weekly. |
Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in bird baths. Change water in bird baths and wading pools on a weekly basis. | Keep drains, ditches and culverts free of grass clippings, weeds and trash so water will drain properly. |
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate | Report possible mosquito breeding sites to your local mosquito control agency if one exists in your community. |
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended by a family that goes on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that mosquitoes may breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers. | |
The Woodland Beasty – The Tick
When we think of ticks we most often think of them attaching themselves to our pets. But ticks can and do like the blood of humans as well. (I know this from personal experience of waking up one night to find one on my fiancée's shoulder!) From the larval stage to the adult stage ticks will attach themselves to animals and humans for a feast of blood. As well as being annoying and rather disturbing it can also be dangerous. Ticks can transmit diseases such as: Lyme disease, Human Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis (often concurrent with Lyme disease from the same deer tick bite), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Southern Tick-associated Rash illness.
Perhaps the most commonly known and scary disease that is carried by ticks is Lyme disease. This disease if not treated can have some seriously debilitating consequences. Carried by the black legged tick (also known as the deer tick) the symptoms of Lyme disease generally start with a bulls eye shaped rash around the bite site along with fever, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, muscle pain and generally feeling uncomfortable. The North Carolina State Universtiy, department of entomology list the following as symptoms:
Stage I involves a rash and flu-like symptoms. Within 30 days of infection, a characteristic rash (erythema migrans) occurs at the site of the tick bite. Twenty to 50 percent of Lyme disease patients do not exhibit the rash, which often delays diagnosis of the disease. Erythema migrans may occur as an irregular-shaped red blotch or it may consist of a bright red ring around the bite that gradually expands over several days and clears in the center to form a bull's-eye pattern. The rash can vary in size from 1 to 18 inches. Later, secondary blotchlike skin lesions may occur away from the site of the bite when the spirochete spreads. The rash is usually accompanied by fatigue, a headache, a stiff neck, muscle aches and pains, and a general feeling of discomfort.
Stage II, which occurs during the next several weeks, includes cardiac and neurological symptoms. Neurological complications occur in about 15 percent of the patients and can involve encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), radiculitis (inflammation of the nerve roots), and Bell's palsy (transitory facial paralysis). In most instances, these symptoms completely disappear after lasting several months. Cardiac abnormalities occur in about 8 percent of patients. The symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath, and heartbeat irregularities that may require installation of a pacemaker. Within several weeks these symptoms usually disappear.
Stage III is distinguished by arthritic problems that may appear as long as two years after the rash. Patients may experience pain, swelling, and elevated temperature in one or more joints. Some patients may also exhibit sleepwalking, loss of memory, mood changes, and inability to concentrate. Lyme disease and its complications can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Physicians use different antibiotics against each stage of the disease. With early treatment, the course of Lyme disease is shortened and the occurrence of late complications, such as arthritis, is reduced. Therefore, it is important to diagnose Lyme disease and administer antibiotic therapy quickly.
Protection Yourself from Ticks
It is important to protect yourself from ticks and the diseases that they carry here are some tips to help you protect yourself:
Find out from your local public health office if there are ticks in your area, especially blacklegged ticks. | To avoid ticks that maybe on grass and shrubs, stay on wide paths and roads when possible. |
Wear protective clothing to limit the access of ticks to your skin. This clothing should include enclosed shoes, long-sleeved shirts that fit tightly around the wrist and are tucked into pants, and long-legged pants tucked into socks or boots. Light coloured clothing helps to be able to spot ticks. | Insect repellents containing DEET are safe and can effectively repel ticks. Repellents can be applied to clothing as well as exposed skin but should not be applied to skin underneath clothing (note: DEET may damage some materials). Always read and follow label directions. |
After removing ticks, wash the site of attachment with soap and water or disinfect it with alcohol or household antiseptic. Note the day of the tick bite and try to save the tick in an empty pill vial or doubled zip-lock bag. | Carefully remove attached ticks using tweezers. Grasp the tick's head and mouth parts as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly until the tick is removed. Do not twist or rotate the tick and try not to damage the tick (i.e., squash or crush it) during removal. |
Check for ticks on clothing and skin after being in tick-infested areas. A daily total-body inspection and prompt removal of attached ticks (i.e., within 18 to 24 hours) can reduce the risk of infection. Blacklegged ticks are very small, particularly at the nymph stage, be sure to look carefully. Do not forget to check children and pets as well. A tick must be attached at least six hours in order to transmit disease organisms causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever; therefore, the longer a tick is attached, the greater the chances are that germs will be transmitted. The minimum attachment time required for transmission of Lyme disease is not yet known. | |
All in all we know that prevention is the best medicine. Avoiding the stinging and biting of insects that can bring serious illness it is an important part of summer health and safety. I hope that your summer is a health and safe one.
Brightest Blessings
Raiwvynn Dusana
Resources
http://www.articlealley.com/article_253125_17.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virus
http://www.co.frederick.md.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=2579
http://realestate.aol.com/article/improve/_a/surviving-summer-bugs/20070711180509990001
http://encarta.msn.com/related_761560686_3/diseases_carried_by_mosquitoes.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Viral-Diseases-Carried-by-Mosquitoes&id=920039
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/diseases.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childhoodinfections/a/west_nile_virus.htm
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/ticks.htm
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/180/12/1221
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-fs-eng.php#7
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/lyme/index.html
http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/tickdis.htm
http://www.nasdonline.org/docs/d000901-d001000/d000960/d000960.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/article.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease
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