14 Best Ways On How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Potential Diseases from Mosquito Bites

Mosquito bites are not just itchy and annoying, but they can really make you very sick. Knowing how to avoid mosquito bites can keep you safe from the following diseases that are known to be spread by mosquitoes:

Zika

The Zika virus is spread to human beings primarily through mosquito bites. The most common Zika disease symptoms are fever, joint pain, skin rash, and red eyes (conjunctivitis). Usually, the illness is mild and the symptoms may last from a couple of days to one week.

Zika is believed to cause new-born baby birth defects to women infected with the Zika virus during the course of their pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid travelling to areas known to have the Zika Virus.

Dengue Fever

In the tropics, Dengue is a major cause of serious sickness and death. The majority of infected people have mild or zero symptoms. Approximately 1 in 4 people infected people will proceed to develop some disease symptoms.

Mild infection symptoms begin with a severe headache and fever, rash, joint/muscle pain, and pain behind the eyes. Dengue can quickly become very severe and fatal.

Chikungunya

The most common Chikungunya virus infection symptoms are sudden onset of joint pain and a high fever. Others may include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, or rash. Chikungunya virus infection is rarely fatal, although the joint swelling and pain can often become severe and very debilitating.

The majority of patients recover within one week, although some people may experience long-term joint pain. Outbreaks of Chikungunya have occurred in some African, European, Asian countries, and in the Pacific and Pacific Oceans. Though not common in continental US, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have witnessed large outbreaks.

Yellow Fever

Although with a 400-year history, Yellow fever at present only occurs in tropical areas of the Americas and Africa. It has both a jungle and urban cycle. It is nowadays a rare illness as the majority of countries have put in place requirements and regulations for vaccination against Yellow fever prior to entering their country.

Final Word

Should all the above preventive steps not succeed, there are lots of other different home remedies that could possibly assist you. These can range from baking soda and herbs to ice packs – the list is practically endless.

For the frequent traveller, the CDC Travellers' Health Guide offers handy information on destinations where you might encounter insect-borne diseases. However, in general, with the above tips on how to prevent mosquito bites, with some planning and preparation, you should enjoy your travels and being outdoors relatively comfortably.

If you have been bitten already, then learn how to stop the uncomfortable mosquito bites from itching.