Tag: alpha gal syndrome

Easy Tips to Avoid Insect Bites and Stings

For infections spread by insect bites and stings, avoiding exposure is the best way to prevent disease.

Several types of insect bites and stings can transmit infectious agents. Some cause only local injury, minor or serious. Avoiding exposure is the best way to prevent either occurrence.

3 Types of Problems

Local Skin Reaction

A local reaction at the site of the bite. This can range from mild redness, swelling and itching to a deep wound that may get infected.

The young girl depicted here, sustained a number of insect bites about her upper back. Note how these vesicular lesions resembled what was initially thought to be a case of chickenpox, caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). credit CDC/ K.L. Herrmann,public domain

Systemic Reaction

A systemic reaction means symptoms in multiple organs of the body. This could include nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, dizziness, muscle aches, headache and anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction). Bee and wasp stings can cause both local and systemic reactions.Ticks cause alpha-gal syndrome an allergic reaction.

An Insect-Transmitted Infection

We worry most about this one  (other than anaphylaxis.) Worldwide, this is the most serious consequence of insect bites, causing millions of illnesses and deaths. Malaria alone infects 200 million people, causing almost 500,000 deaths yearly.

Mosquito bites can transmit malaria; Zika , chikungunya, dengue, West Nile,and yellow fever viruses

Ticks-bites transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia.

 

This photograph depicted two, Haemaphysalis longicornis  ticks, commonly known as the longhorned tick. The smaller of the two ticks on the left, was a nymph. The larger tick was an adult female. Males are rare. This tick can reproduce asexually. Note that the ticks had been placed atop a United States dime, in order to provide you with some sense of scale, as to the size of these small creatures. credit James Gathany/CDC
This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions

Preventing Insect Bites and Stings

  • wear long sleeve shirts and jackets
  • sleep under nets
  • be cautious when eating out of doors
  • remove sources of standing water
  • keep doors and windows closed, or install screens
  • apply insect repellents to skin or clothing

Insect Repellents

(This section contains several affiliate links. They are here for your convenience and to support this blog. However, they do not indicate endorsement or advice to use.)

DEET- N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide
  • best documented effectiveness against mosquitoes and also repels ticks, chiggers, fleas, gnats ,and flies.
  • Safe for children over 2 months old
  • Considered safe in pregnancy
  • Apply sunscreen first, then apply DEET

Ultrathon Insect Repellent 2 oz (Pack of 2)

Picaridin
  • Protects against mosquitoes, ticks, flies, fleas, and chiggers
  • Safe for children
  • Safe in pregnancy
  • Better tolerated than DEET

Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Aerosol Spray 4 Oz.

IR3535
  • Works against mosquitoes, deer ticks, flies
  • Safe in pregnancy

Avon SKIN-SO-SOFT Bug Guard PLUS IR3535® Insect Repellent Moisturizing Lotion – SPF 30 Gentle Breeze, 4 oz

 Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus – p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)
  • Repels mosquitoes, flies, gnats
  • Less effective than DEET for ticks
  • Not for children less than 3 years old
  • Safe in pregnancy

Coleman Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Deet Free Insect Repellent Spray Pump, 4 fl oz

 Permethrin
  • Repels and kills mosquitoes and ticks
  • Is applied to clothing, nets, tents and sleeping bags
  • No evidence of harm to children or in pregnancy

Coleman Gear and Clothing Permethrin Insect Repellent Aerosol, 6 Ounce

Citronella
  • Only effective against mosquitoes, not against ticks
  • Less effective than DEET
Essential oils
  • Limited and variable protection against mosquitoes
  • Obtained from clove, geraniol, patchouli

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Dr. Aletha