Warmer climate usually means more insects and a higher risk of bites and stings. Mosquitoes are the most common biting insect, although several other insects may also bite such as flies, ticks, fleas and bed bugs. Although most bites cause minor irritation and localized pain, some can cause serious diseases such as:
- Malaria
- Dengue
- Chikengunya
- Yellow Fever
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Tick-borne Encephalitis
- Lyme disease
- Zika
Travellers can check if any of these disease are prevalent where they are going to on official websites such as travelhealthpro which provide trusted information from government sources. If there is a risk where you are going, the most effective way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated before you travel. Some vaccinations can take a few months to complete the full course in order to be fully protected, so its essential to plan early.
Vaccines prevent the illness from bites, but don’t stop the irritation, itching, and pain you may experience from bites. Bites usually lead to small, localised bumps in the skin caused by mild allergic reactions in the area. These can sometimes become infected, especially if the bites get scratched because of the itching. Bites may also lead to rare allergic reactions called anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening.
Preventing Bites
Preventing insect bites is the most important step to staying safe and reducing these risks. Travellers can take some of the following steps, such as:
- Wearing clothes that cover the arms, legs and neck, especially during dawn, dusk and night time when mosquitoes are most active. Clothes should be loose fitting, as mosquitoes can still bit through clothes that are tight to the skin.
- Using insect repellents. These should be applied to all exposed areas of skin and after sunscreens. They should also be reapplied regularly, especially after swimming or bathing.
- Using mosquito nets, and treating them with insecticides or insect repellents.
- Staying in air-conditioned rooms and rooms away from damp soil and stagnant water where insects may breed.
- Try not to scratch any bites, as this can make the itching worse and spread further germs from your hands and nails into the skin or cause bleeding which can lead to the bite getting infected.