Mosquito Diseases

• Introduction
• Malaria
• How do people get afflicted with malaria?
• What are its symptoms?
• What are the dangers of malaria?
• Why are treatments not so effective?
• How can I reduce the risk?
• Treatment of Malaria
• Dengue
• What is dengue?
• Recognition of Dengue Fever
• How does Dengue spread?
• Where does this mosquito live?
• Where does the mosquito breed?
• Prevention of Dengue mosquito bites ?
• What is Filaria?
• Allethrin is safe
• Yellow Fever
• Symptoms for Yellow Fever ?
• Treatment for Yellow Fever ?
• Prevention for Yellow Fever ?
• Useful tips for better usage of repellent products to keep away mosquitoes ?
• More Valuable Information about Mosquito Disease ?

How can I reduce the risk?

You shouldn't allow water to stagnate, as this forms a breeding ground for malaria's deadly carriers, the Anopheles mosquito. At community level water shouldn't be allowed to stagnate and whenever feasible, water should be drained. Fro efficient control, spraying can be undertaken using pesticides by certified authority. At home, you should change water in flower pots, buckets, coolers etc. at least twice a week. Ventilation of socket outlet pipes should be properly covered with nets. Mosquito nets and door screens also help. But these methods are not convenient. Mosquito repellants like mats, coils, refills, etc., should be sued regularly to keep mosquitoes away.
 
Warding off & minimisation of exposure to mosquitoes
 
1.  Avoidance of night-time outside activities.
2.  Avoid dark coloured clothing as it attracts mosquitoes.
     Some perfumes, cologne and aftershave are also reported
     to attract.
3.  Clothing to cover arms and legs in the evenings as
     mosquitoes prefer the leg ankle region.
4.  Spend time in air-conditioned offices and hotels that are
     generally free from mosquitoes.
5.  Use mosquito bed nets if sleeping in unscreened rooms or
     open spaces.
6.  If mosquitoes are present in an otherwise screened room,
    spray with insecticide.
7. Use reliable mosquito repellents:

Use a dependant insecticide aerosol in the room to kill mosquitoes before retiring. Use knock down sprays.
Use mosquito coils or vaporising mats.
Use electronic repellements.
 
You cannot depend on medication alone to prevent malaria. Avoidance of bites is the best protective plan. Consistent use of these measures both during day and night will not only prevent just malaria and filaria, but also dengue, a day-time biting mosquito disease. It is advisable to carry some form of mosquito repellent while traveling-: either sprays, creams, lotions, mats or coils.
 
Malarial control history in India
 
1946: India started using DDT
1953: NMCP is started
1958: NMCP becomes the NMEP
1959: The first time vector resistance is detected in India (In Gujarat)
1965: Malaria begins to re-emerge
1976: Peak of malaria cases in re-emergence period
1977: India starts MPO and PfPC
1985: 2 million annual cases of malaria in India 
1991: Peal of P.falciparum cases
1994: Large scale epidemics, primarily in eastern India and western Rajasthan.

Control of mosquito borne diseases
 
· Population shift from rural to urban areas
· Improved housing and nutrition
· Better socio-economic conditions
· Better living standards
· Improved surveillance has allowed treatment of parasitemic
  persons
· Screening of houses
· Insecticide spraying by certified authority.
· House spraying (residual insecticide- spray programme)

Treatment of Malaria

A malaria vaccine is under development but is not available. However, the following prescription drugs can prevent malarial infection and always should be taken with travellers visiting areas with high rates of malaria. The type of medication recommended depends on the rate of resistance to the drug chloroquine in the countries you are living or visiting.
 
Chloroquine is a treatment of choice for malaria. But it is recommended only in countries where the malaria parasites are not yet resistant to it.
 
Mefloquine is now being used widely because many malaria causing parasites have become resistant to Chloroquine.
 
Doxycycline is an antibiotic also effective in suppressing malarial parasites. This drug has one disadvantage. It makes some people hypersensitive to the sun. A hat and sunscreen should be used when taking this drug.
 
Please consult a doctor for the exact prescription combination, dosage, usage and duration.