The weather is warming up and summer is on its way, which means we will all be spending more time outdoors getting lots of fresh air and sunlight! But, going outdoors also means encountering mosquitoes and ticks and the diseases they can carry. Insect-borne disease is a major cause of illness in adults and children worldwide. Here’s what you as a parent should know about the diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks.
West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the US and is most prevalent in July through September.
Symptoms
- Most cases are mild with no symptoms. Some people may experience fever, headache, and body aches.
- Less commonly, some older adults could experience severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, sensitivity to light, muscle weakness, and loss of conciousness.
La Cross Virus
Coming in as the second most common mosquito-borne disease, La Cross virus is most commonly severe in children under 16 years old.
Symptoms
- Most children infected with La Cross virus experience symptoms due to swelling in the brain. These symptoms can include fever, stiff neck, confusion, and seizures. Thankfully, few have died from La Cross infection.
Zika Virus
Zika virus is another mosquito-borne illness with outbreaks currently happening in many countries and territories.
Symptoms
- Many people infected with Zika virus will not experience symptoms or will only experience very mild symptoms.
- Symptoms can include fever, headaches, swollen limbs, itchy rash, joint pain, or red eyes.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness specifically spread by the deer tick– a tiny black/brown tick about the size of a poppy seed. Ticks are actually categorized as arachnids, much like spiders, because they have 8 legs, not 6.
Lyme disease is a larger health concern in certain parts of the US because more infections occur there. These areas include: Northeast- from Virginia to Maine, North Central- mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the West Coast- particularly northern California.
Symptoms
The first symptom of Lyme disease is typically a localized rash that begins as a pink or red circle at the site of the tick bite. This rash will expand over time and become several inches larger, appearing as a classic “bulls-eye” with concentric rings. This rash typically appears within 1-2 weeks of the tick bite, but can range from 3 to 30 days. The rash may also occur without any other symptoms, but some associate symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Chills
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen glands, usually in the neck or groin
- Aches and pains in the muscles or joints
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is another tick-borne illness, occurring mostly in North and South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee- despite the name.
Symptoms
A red-spot like rash starting on the wrists and ankles and spreading toward the center of the body is the most common first symptom. The rash may also appear faintly in the palms, soles, or not at all. Children are the most vulnerable. Some additional symptoms may include:
- severe headache
- fever
- muscle aches
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
Rocky Mountain spotted fever must be treated immediately with effective antibiotic treatment within the first 5 days. Without this, it is often fatal.
Powassan Virus
Powassan virus first began being tracked in 2004. Since then, many cases are reported between April and December yearly. This is another disease mainly spread by the deer tick and transmission can occur as fast as 15 minutes after the tick bites.
Symptoms
Most people affected by Powassan virus are older adults who experience brain swelling, but in 2016 a case was reported in a 5 month old baby who experienced fever and vomiting, followed by seizures.
Reduce the Risk
These illnesses can be scary and cause parents to be hesitant in allowing their children outdoors during peak seasons. But children need time outside and typically really love it! The risk of your child developing any of these insect-borne illnesses is low, and is even lower when you take these steps to reduce the risk of insect bites.
The best way to prevent ticks from attaching to your skin is using repellents or wearing permethrin-treated clothing.
If your child has been exposed to ticks remember to:
- Check for any ticks that have attached to the skin
- Remove their clothing and get them into a shower quickly to help removed any ticks that have not attached yet.
- See “How to Remove a Tick” for tips on removing any that have attached.
Remember
If your child has been bitten by a bug and shows any of the symptoms listed above, contact your pediatrician for further advise and/or to schedule an appointment to be evaluated.