What to do if bitten by a malaria mosquito

Mosquito bites very unpleasant in sensations and subsequent irritation. But many people face them, and pay attention to everyone mosquito impossible. But among ordinary blood-sucking insects there is a special species, the scientific name of which is Anofeles, better known as malaria mosquito. His bite can cause serious damage to human health or even cause his death.

On a note!

The reason for this danger of a small insect is that it is a carrier of parasites - malarial plasmodia. Once in the victim’s blood, they concentrate and multiply in the liver and spleen of a person, destroy them from the inside, reduce the body’s immunity, thereby provoking the development of many dangerous diseases.

Signs of a bite of a malaria mosquito

If a malaria mosquito bites, a person will not notice the difference and perceive it as an attack of an ordinary bloodsucker. A slight tingling and redness of the skin accompanies the first hours after the attack of a dangerous carrier of malaria. Then light appears itching, blister and edema. A photo of a bite of a malaria mosquito is presented below.

You can distinguish a malaria mosquito from an ordinary mosquito by external subtle signs. Anopheles during the bite lifts the abdomen up, and a simple mosquito keeps it parallel to the surface. The antennae of a malaria bloodsucker are longer than those of a regular one. In size, both types of insects are almost identical.

On a note!

People who are hypersensitive and prone to allergies after being bitten by a regular or malarial mosquito may experience severe edema, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes. If insects attacked in the face, maybe swollen eye.

The bite site may not be felt in a couple of days, and the victim will not suspect anything. The incubation period of malaria can last from 7 to 45 days from the time of the bite. Before the manifestation of obvious signs of the disease in a person in the first week after a malaria mosquito has bitten, the following ailments may occur:

• weakness;
• apathy;
• pallor of the skin;
• lack of appetite;
• nausea;
• pain in the abdomen;
• diarrhea;
• vomiting

The victim of a malaria bloodsucker rarely pays attention to these signs, finding another explanation for them. At this time, the disease is already developing in the body and has a devastating effect on the internal organs.

To make you feel better, you must immediately handle mosquito bite alcohol solution and apply ice. The patient is recommended to drink plenty of fluids: strong tea and coffee. For warning allergic reaction to mosquito bites An antihistamine should be taken - Suprastin, Tavegil, Diphenhydramine.

Malaria infection

A few days after a bite of a malaria bloodsucker, a person suddenly rises in temperature. Such a sharp jump provokes severe headache and joint pain, tinnitus, cramps, dizziness, and excessive sweating. Fever often followed by chills. Such attacks of fever accompany the patient for 4-8 hours.Then comes a temporary improvement in well-being, which is replaced by a second attack.

Several types of malaria are known:

1. Three-day - fever attacks accompanied by headache, joint, back pain are repeated every 48 hours. Usually ailments begin in the morning. The disease can occur in this mode for 2-3 years.
2. Four-day - seizures are repeated every 3 days.
3. Tropical is the most severe form of malaria. The duration of the disease is from 6 to 12 months. It is accompanied by severe fever and most often has a fatal outcome.

Important!

The course of any type of this disease depends on the state of human immunity. The most vulnerable victims of malaria are children under 5 years old and pregnant women. Their immune system is not able to resist parasites. It is small children and expectant mothers who are at risk of death.

In addition to malaria, anopheles mosquitoes are carriers of other dangerous diseases:

• anthrax;
• intestinal infections;
• "Elephant disease";
• yellow and tropical fever.

Spread of malaria mosquito

Malaria vectors live in warm, humid countries. The largest number of insects falls on the third world countries: southern Africa, Latin America, Asia. In total there are more than 400 species of malaria mosquitoes. In Russia, there are about 10 varieties of this bloodsucker. The main mosquito distribution regions are:

• Krasnodar region;
• Caucasus;
• Western Siberia;
• European part of Russia.

Mosquitoes live and breed in wetlands, stagnant bodies of water. The northernmost region of the country where malaria mosquitoes are found is Karelia. Regions with more severe climates are unsuitable for bloodsuckers. In order to reduce the population of these dangerous insects in many countries, including ours, measures are taken to drain the swamps, monitor the sanitary situation in the regions, and use special mosquito repellent.

Prevention and treatment of the disease

The easiest way to protect yourself from becoming infected with the disease is to protect yourself from bites. Before going to the forest or a regular walk in the park you need to dress appropriately: treat all body parts, clothes, hands and face as much as possible repellents. To go on nature, there are special protective suit models.

Important!

To date, the malaria vaccine has not yet been invented. For several years, work has been ongoing on its creation in different countries.

If you are visiting a site with a high percentage of malaria infection, you must take the following drugs:

• Malaron;
• Quinine;
• Lariam
• Delagil and others.

Reception of the drug for preventive purposes begins 7-14 days before the trip to the danger zone and continues to be taken after leaving the area for another 2-4 weeks. Treatment of the disease is carried out with the same drugs, which are based on quinine.

Mosquito centipede and malaria mosquito

Very often, when a large mosquito with long limbs is seen, people start to panic. It looks like a mosquito-centipede. By inexplicable criteria, many call it "malarial" and try to destroy it right away. In fact, the centipede poses no threat to humans.

These big mosquitoes can reach up to 6-8 cm in length. They feed on nectar and have nothing to do with bloodsuckers. But they also breed near water bodies and prefer moist areas. It is likely that their intimidating appearance misleads people who consider it deadly. It flies slowly, which makes it noticeable to natural enemies and humans.

Interesting!

A long-legged mosquito, fleeing from the enemy, can remain without limbs, but still continue to exist.Such a useful property helps him survive, despite his slow movements during the flight.

Unlike the long-legged representative of the genus Diptera, the malaria mosquito has a modest size and an inconspicuous appearance. In this he is dangerous. It is very difficult to distinguish it from an ordinary harmless bloodsucker.