Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Their Management

Introduction:

Since previously isolated illnesses have spread globally, mosquito-borne infections have become more prevalent. Some prevalent and newly emerging viral diseases spread by mosquitoes are Zika, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, West Nile, yellow fever, and chikungunya. A detailed patient history, physical examination, and understanding of diagnostic testing depending on symptom duration are essential to achieving a prompt and precise diagnosis. The focus is on decreasing the risk and spreading of the infection because many diseases have supportive therapies.

What Are Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

A mosquito that feeds on blood also ingests any viruses or parasites in the blood. The mosquito's saliva can spread these diseases and parasites to the next person it bites. A "mosquito-borne disease" is any illness that spreads from a mosquito to a person or animal. These diseases transmitted by mosquitoes may not affect the mosquito but can severely harm humans.

What Are the Various Types of Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

Some of the mosquito-borne conditions are as follows:

• Malaria.

• Dengue.

• West Nile virus.

• Chikungunya.

• Zika.

What Is Malaria and Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

When a mosquito bites someone, it transmits the severe parasitic disease known as malaria. Malarial parasites enter the bloodstream when an insect bites a person. It is not a virus or a specific sort of bacteria; parasites cause malaria. Cerebral malaria is the most severe type of disease and can lead to coma. This category accounts for roughly 20 percent of adult deaths and 15 percent of child deaths.

Symptoms: Malaria symptoms are similar to flu symptoms. They consist of the following:

• Fever and perspiration.

• The entire body shakes with the chills.

• Muscle pains and headaches.

• Fatigue.

• Cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pain.

• Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.

• Anemia and jaundice can develop as malaria worsens.

Diagnosis:

The disease is diagnosed with the help of a blood test. The blood test will reveal the presence of parasites in the blood.

Treatment:

The treatment for malaria must begin as soon as possible. To kill the malarial parasite, the doctor will prescribe drugs. Some medications are administered along with other medications. The kind of parasites patients have will dictate the type of medicine they take and for how long they take it.

The most popular antimalarial medications consist of the following:

• Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy (ACTs): ACT is a mixture of two or more drugs that combat the malarial parasite in various ways. This is typically the recommended treatment for malaria that is resistant to Chloroquine. Artemether-Lumefantrine and Artesunate-Mefloquine are two examples.

• Other Medications: Atovaquone, Chloroquine (some parasites are resistant to this treatment), Doxycycline, Mefloquine, Quinine, and Primaquine.

What Is West Nile Virus and Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

A virus transmitted by mosquitoes causes the majority of West Nile infections. Most West Nile virus patients either show no symptoms or have moderate ones, such as a fever and a mild headache. However, some people experience a fatal condition that also causes brain or spinal cord inflammation.

Symptoms: Most West Nile virus victims show no symptoms at all.

• Symptoms of Mild Infection:

West Nile fever is a relatively common illness that affects 20 % of people. Typical signs and symptoms include the following:

• Fever.

• Headache.

• Bodyache.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea.

• Fatigue.

• Skin rash.

Symptoms of Severe Infection:

The virus produces a significant neurological illness in less than 1 % of affected individuals. Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) may be a part of this condition. The symptoms include the following:

• Extreme fever.

• Severe headache.

• Rigid neck.

• Disorientation.

• Coma.

• Tremors, jerking of the muscles.

• Seizures.

• Weakened muscles.

• Loss of vision.

• Numbness.

Diagnosis:

• Blood Test: A quick blood test can confirm the diagnosis of the West Nile virus. This test scans the blood for West Nile virus antibodies, which are proteins that indicate that the body is battling the virus.

• Spinal Tap: The doctor might advise a spinal tap if the symptoms are severe. The physician gently removes a small fluid sample from the spine using a needle. This test looks for indicators of a severe infection.

Treatment:

Most patients with West Nile virus recover without treatment. A hospital setting with supportive care, intravenous fluids, and painkillers is usually necessary for critically ill patients. Over-the-counter painkillers can assist with minor cases of headaches and muscle aches.

What Is Zika Virus and Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

An infectious disease called the Zika virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites. The majority of people just get mild symptoms from the virus. However, if a woman contracts the infection during pregnancy, the fetus's risk of having some birth abnormalities may increase.

Symptoms:

Many Zika virus patients have little or no symptoms. The symptoms can start to show within three to fourteen days after the infection and can persist for up to a week.

Some symptoms are as follows:

• Redness and discomfort in the eyes.

• Fever.

• Headache.

• Joint discomfort or muscular pain.

• Skin rashes.

Diagnosis:

The doctor may request a blood or urine test to check for the Zika virus if patients have symptoms of illness or if they recently visited a region where the disease was widespread. As soon as individuals experience symptoms, testing is done.

Treatment:

There is no specific vaccination or treatment for the Zika virus. These actions are taken to lessen the symptoms:

• Take in a lot of liquids.

• Get a lot of sleep.

• Use Acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever, to treat the fever and discomfort. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not taken until the testing shows that the patients do not have dengue fever. In those with dengue fever, these medications may increase the risk of bleeding.

What Is Dengue and Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease that strikes tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Flu-like symptoms and a high temperature are signs of mild dengue fever. The severe variety of dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, can result in fatalities, significant bleeding, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and shock.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms of Dengue Fever:

Most dengue infections are asymptomatic. If a patient experiences symptoms, a high temperature (104°F/40°C) is usual, coupled with the following:

• Rash.

• Extreme discomfort behind the eyes.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Joint, muscle, and bone pain.

The first signs of dengue fever begin in four to ten days after a mosquito bite and remain for three to seven days. After their first symptoms start to fade, about 1 in 20 dengue patients develop severe dengue.

Symptoms of Severe Dengue (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever):

A life-threatening progression of dengue symptoms is considered severe dengue. Typically, 24 to 48 hours after the fever goes away, patients start to see warning signs of severe dengue.

If individuals have any of the following symptoms and have dengue or reside in a region where dengue is prevalent, visit the closest hospital.

• Abdominal or stomach ache.

• Frequently vomiting.

• Having blood in vomit or feces (stool).

• Bleeding gums or the nose.

• Extreme drowsiness, agitation, or restlessness.

Diagnosis:

Blood tests are used to diagnose dengue disease. To check for the dengue virus, the healthcare professional will draw blood and send it to a laboratory for analysis.

Treatment:

There is no particular drug that treats dengue illness.

Drink a lot of fluids while recovering from dengue fever. If patients experience any of the following dehydration symptoms, contact the doctor straight away.

• Fewer urinations.

• Little to no tears.

• Dry lips or mouth.

• Sluggishness or confusion.

• Extremities that are cold or clammy.

Over-the-counter Acetaminophen can help lower fever and muscle pain. However, patients should refrain from using Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen sodium if they have dengue fever. These painkillers may make dengue fever bleeding problems more likely.

What Is Chikungunya and Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

Humans become infected with the chikungunya virus through mosquito bites. Fever and joint aches are two symptoms. Although it is rarely fatal, the symptoms can be highly severe, persistent, and devastating.

Symptoms:

Most people who contract the Chikungunya virus will have some symptoms. The typical onset of symptoms is between 3 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some symptoms are as follows:

• Fever and joint pain are the most frequent signs and symptoms.

• Other signs include a rash, headache, muscular pain, or joint swelling.

• Newborns infected at the time of delivery, elderly persons (>65), and people with medical disorders, including high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, are among those who are at risk for more severe disease.

• The majority of patients recover within a week. Joint pain, however, can be excruciating and incapacitating and last for weeks.

• Chikungunya is rarely fatal.

Diagnosis:

The doctor may request blood testing to check for the Chikungunya virus or other closely related viruses like dengue and Zika.

Treatment:

Neither vaccination nor treatment is currently available for chikungunya. Some symptoms may be relieved by rest, water intake, and over-the-counter painkillers. Take medication to lower the fever and pain, such as Acetaminophen or Paracetamol.

Aspirin and other NSAIDs are not taken until dengue has been ruled out to avoid the risk of bleeding.

How to Prevent Getting Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

When an infected mosquito bites a person, mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted to that person. Both during the day and at night, mosquitoes sting. The best way to avoid it is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Use insect repellent, dress in long sleeves and pants, treat the clothing and equipment and take precautions to reduce mosquito populations indoors and outdoors. Some ways to prevent mosquitoes from biting are as follows:

1. Apply Insect Repellent:

   1. Use insect repellents containing one of the following active components approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even for pregnant and nursing women, EPA-registered insect repellents are safe and effective when used as instructed.

   2. Picaridin.

   3. IR3535.

   4. Lemon eucalyptus oil.

   5. 2-undecanone.

   6. Para-menthane-diol.

2. Treat Clothing and Accessories:

   1. Treat clothing and accessories (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) with 0.5 % permethrin or purchase clothing and equipment treated with permethrin.

   2. Insecticide permethrin kills or deters mosquitoes.

   3. After numerous times of washing, clothing coated with permethrin offers protection.

3. Take Action to Eliminate Mosquitoes, Both Indoors and Outdoors:

   1. Put screens on the doors and windows. To keep mosquitoes outside, patch up any holes in the screens.

   2. If available, use the air conditioning.

   3. Prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs near or in water.

   4. Items that store water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or garbage cans, should be emptied and scrubbed, turned over, covered, or thrown away once every week.

   5. Search both indoors and outdoors for water-holding containers.

Conclusion:

Several diseases occur because of the infected mosquito bite. Some of them are mild, and some are severe. Avoiding mosquito bites is the most effective strategy to prevent these infections. If any symptoms resembling these diseases appear, consult a physician to manage them and prevent them from worsening.