Bug Warfare
Techniques to prevent catching diseases while traveling.
by Mary Jo Plouf
The mosquitoes that keep you swatting at the back-yard barbecue or the sand flies (no-see-ums) that force you to leave the beach in late afternoon may be pesky, but they are usually not life threatening. The same cannot be said for their relatives in many developing nations. Mosquitoes, flies and ticks can be not only injurious to your health, they can be deadly. Under no circumstances should you underestimate these nasties of nature, but neither should you let them keep you from enjoying your chosen destination. There is a great deal of protection available and if you use it wisely you should be free of bites.
If you are going to a nation's capitol and staying at the Hilton, you probably won't need much more than a little Avon's Skin-So-Soft for evening strolls. However, if you are roughing it in remote areas you had better bring out the heavy ammunition including sprays, netting, treatment for your clothing and in malaria areas, prophylactic drugs before, during and after your visit. These common sense remedies are greatly under-utilized and as a result many travelers still come home to face weeks of debilitating illness.
The first line of defense in preventing insect bites is to apply insect repellent to all exposed skin. The most widely used and effective repellents are those containing DEET. Commercial preparations are available containing from 6.5% DEET to l00%. The stronger preparations may be too toxic for children but the lower dosage may not give complete protection. Experiment before you leave home and if any adverse effects such as redness, itching, blisters or swelling occur select a less concentrated product, but try not to go below l5% for adults. Apply as often as directed and make sure all exposed areas are covered. DEET has little Spatial activity and any untreated skin may be vulnerable.
Perhaps the most important new line of defense is a product called Permethrin, which can be applied to clothing or mosquito nets. Permethrin kills insects that alight on treated fabric but is not toxic to humans. This product is available in two forms: (l) A liquid that can be mixed with water to soak clothing. Treatment lasts up to four weeks and can be used on any fabric including silk. Unless you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, application can be completed before you leave home. An aerosol spray, which you can tuck into your luggage, is also available. Permethrin is effective against virtually all kinds of insects and few toxic side effects have been reported. The particular value of this product is that if you have any holes or openings in clothing or netting, the chances are that mosquitoes will land on the fabric first before finding the opening.
Malaria is the most important, the most common and probably the most debilitating of the mosquito-borne diseases. However, with all the preventive measures available, including the prophylactic drugs, it should not be a problem, only a concern. Malaria protection is not available in your local drugstore, although the previously mentioned methods should be combined with prophylactic drug treatment. Contact your local Health Department or your physician for advice on when to begin treatment, dosage etc. Over 90 countries are considered as malaria areas, so if you are not sure whether your destination is included in this statistic, ask a qualified health official. Don't guess on this one. Being wrong could be fatal.
Ticks, especially deer ticks, are probably the most common cause of insect-borne diseases in the United States. The above mentioned procedures work well in preventing tick bites. To keep ticks out of hair and around ears and neck wear a bandanna or scarf treated with Permethrin.
These simple, readily available remedies for insect born diseases should keep you healthy even in remote areas. However, should you experience any symptoms of illness after returning home (from one week to several months) notify your doctor. Make sure he knows where you have been traveling. Treatments are available for many diseases, but left untreated they can be fatal.
For questions and comments about Worldtravelcenter.com, its World Travel Health newsletter, or its travel companion jetStream, contact Laura Bauer:
laura@worldtravelcenter.com
Phone: 1-800-234-1862
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