Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes!
Before traveling it's important to take the necessary precautions to prevent insect bites and the diseases they carry. Places like Africa, Asia, South and Central America are some of the most beautiful places in the world. But they are also home for some of the most threatening illnesses and diseases. Its important to research your destination and take proper precautions!
There are vaccines that can protect from acquiring insect-borne diseases like Dengue Fever, Sand Fly Fever, West Nile Virus, Leishmaniasis, and Malaria. These are often transmitted through the bite of tiny mosquitoes. Still, not all mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika Virus can be prevented with a vaccine. While most mosquitoes will bite during dusk and dawn there are other insects that carry Zika virus, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever that will bite during the day as well. But even if you have had a protective vaccine, there are other measures you should take to avoid being bitten.
What to Do?
Cover Up! Wear long sleeves, light and loose-fitting clothes as this makes it easier to detect mosquitoes and other tiny bugs. NoBu.gs® Insect Repellent Clothing is a perfect solution! Full coverage apparel with built-in insect repellent!
Use Repellent! Use repellent containing less than 35% DEET (diethyltoluamide) and apply it after sunscreen. NoBu.gs® Insect Repellent Clothing provides odorless and invisible repellent coverage that also blocks 98% of harmful UV sunrays!
Tips for Mosquito Bites
DEET and Permethrin repellents as well as bed nets should be purchased before travel and can be found in camping, sporting goods, and travel clinics. Many travelers are putting themselves at risk for contracting insect diseases when they don’t research current diseases before traveling. You should always be prepared and plan ahead. Take insect repellent products when going on a trip. Even though the risk of getting an insect-borne disease is low you can minimize the risk by taking the necessary precaution. Make your trip memorable, in a good way!
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Symptoms
Lyme disease comes from bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted through a bite of the infected tick. Once you are bitten by one of these ticks the symptoms are usually headache, fatigue, fever and a skin rash. If it goes untreated the infection can spread to your joints, the nervous system, and even the heart. The early signs of Lyme disease are skin rashes known as Erythema migrans, fatigue, chills, headaches, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Some ticks are so small, some the size of a poppy seed, it can be difficult to spot them. Lyme disease symptoms may not be noticeable for days or even weeks after being bitten. One of the common symptoms of a tick bite is a reddish circle (bull's eye rash) where the center of the circle is a normal skin color.
How Can you Prevent Lyme Disease?
Use insect topical repellents that include picaridin, IR3535, DEET, para-methane-diol, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or 2-undecanone. Buy clothing and gear treated with permethrin such as NoBu.gs® Insect Repellent Clothing.
During the warmer months (Spring and Summer), are usually the times when we become more prone to getting Lyme disease. Keep brush cleared away from your home and keep your grass trimmed.
Lyme disease is spread through tick bites. These ticks can be found in wooded areas and have complicated life phases. There are some regions where black-legged ticks can spread other diseases including babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Usually ticks need to remain attached for 36-48 hours before they can infect you with Lyme disease.
You should always check for ticks after being outdoors. Ticks will usually attach for at least a day before transmitting the bacteria causing Lyme disease. If you find tick, you should remove them with tweezers. Do not crush the body of the tick, use petroleum jelly, nail polish, matches, or any other products. Instead grab the tick tightly as close to the skin as possible and then pull the tick away from the skin. Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Treatments
There are several antibiotics that are given by mouth to treat Lyme disease that include Amoxicillin, Cefuroxime, and Doxycycline. Patients who are treated early on can recover rapidly as well as patients who are treated in later stages. If you develop any signs of a tick bite that are worrying, best to check with a doctor, better to be safe than sorry!
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