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June 12, 2015

Fit Facts: Avoiding Summer’s Pests and Viruses

Spread by mosquitoes, West Nile virus can cause a serious and sometimes fatal infection. The West Nile virus has been reported in nearly every state. Here’s how to steer clear of mosquito bites:

• Use an insect repellent that contains DEET. For adults, use a mosquito repellent containing up to 35 percent DEET. For children ages 2 to 12, use a product with 10 percent or less DEET. Note that DEET amounts higher than 50 percent do not offer longer protection.
• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when you’re outside between dusk and dawn — the peak mosquito hours.
• Put netting over infant carriers and strollers.
• Keep window and door screens repaired.
• Drain any standing water outside your home to deter mosquito breeding. Check gutters, pool covers, old tires and any open receptacles.

While most people bitten by a mosquito infected with the West Nile virus will not get sick, about 20 percent develop an illness called West Nile fever. Symptoms include mild fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. This illness commonly lasts from a few days to a few weeks.

In a small number of people — less than 1 percent — the West Nile virus enters the brain. This “neuroinvasive” form of West Nile infection is most common in older people and those with weakened immune systems. This life-threatening condition can cause high fever, headache, stiff neck, lethargy, confusion, tremors and difficulty breathing.

West Nile fever generally improves on its own after a few days, though it can last up to several weeks. If you’ve been recently bitten by a mosquito and experience any troubling symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention