You have surely heard about and even celebrated Yoga Day, Women’s Day and Valentine’s Day! But have you heard about World Mosquito Day? Every year Aug 20th is celebrated as World Mosquito Day. Yes! We have a day for these pesky pests too. On 20th August 1897, Sir Ronald Ross discovered that Anopheles mosquitoes were responsible for the transmission of Malaria. It is to commemorate this path breaking discovery in the fight against malaria, that each year we celebrate World Mosquito Day.
Globally, it is said that 17% of infectious diseases are spread by vectors. Vectors are animals that form a bridge between humans and infectious microorganisms for the purpose of transmitting disease. Some of the deadly diseases spread by mosquitoes include Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, Filariasis, West Nile Virus, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow fever etc. Diseases caused by vectors account to about 700,000 deaths annually.
Let us explore more on the top five mosquito-borne diseases in India:
Dengue
Dengue is one of the most dreaded diseases in our country. It could be caused by one of the four closely related but antigenically distinct viruses. Any of the variants can infect the same person several times in their lifetime. Primary symptoms of dengue appear 3 to 15 days after the mosquito bite and include high fever and headache with severe pain behind the eyes that is apparent when trying to move the eyes.Other associated symptoms could be joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash and mild bleeding. Some people complain of low back pain too. If left untreated or undiagnosed it leads to multi-organ failure and can be fatal.
Dengue virus is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics. There is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat Dengue. The prevention of dengue fever requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue. According to WHO, early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1%. However the global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades. About half of the world’s population is now at risk. There are an estimated 100-400 million infections each year.
Malaria
Malaria is a disease caused by any of the four different species of a Plasmodium parasite and transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Infection caused by Plasmodium Falciparum is the deadliest, as it affects the brain and is most likely to cause death. The severity of malaria varies based on the species of Plasmodium. Malarial infections are seen mostly in warmer climates, where there is an abundance of humidity and rain which lead to mosquito breeding.
Symptoms of a malarial infection are chills, fever and sweating, usually occurring a few weeks after being bitten. Specific anti malarial drugs are used for treatment. It is advised that people travelling to areas where malaria is found take preventive drugs to avoid infection. Malaria is however not an infectious disease. In 2019 alone, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a viral infection that spreads through the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also causes dengue. It is found worldwide, particularly in Africa, Asia and India. Symptoms usually appear within a week of infection. Fever and severe joint pain are the main symptoms. Other symptoms include muscle pain, joint swelling, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and Zika, and hence can be misdiagnosed as either of them.
There are no specific drugs for the disease and treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. Patients feel better within a week or so, after the virus runs its course. Chikungunya is not usually fatal but could cause severe and painful limb deformity that may last several months to get cured. Due to the challenges in accurate diagnosis for Chikungunya, there is no real estimate for the number of people affected by the disease globally on an annual basis.
Lymphatic filariasis
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a disabling infection spread by mosquitoes that damages the lymphatic system and causes painful, swollen limbs. Through the bite a parasite travels to the lymphatic system and gets deposited there. Most cases are symptomless and in other cases symptoms include swelling in the legs, arms and genitalia. It also increases the risk of frequent bacterial infections that harden and thicken the skin (elephantiasis).
The best way to prevent infection like in most other cases is to sleep inside a mosquito net, to expose less of skin to mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and leg wear or use good quality harmless and Ayurvedic mosquito repellants, especially between dusk and dawn. 51 million people were infected as of 2018 which is a 74% decline since the start of WHO’s Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2000. The disease can be eliminated through preventive chemotherapy with safe medicine combinations administered and repeated annually.
Zika
Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite us during the day and is seen mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The incubation period of Zika virus disease is estimated to be 3–14 days. The majority of people infected with Zika virus do not develop symptoms. Symptoms, if they manifest, are generally mild including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache, and usually last for 2–7 days. In a few cases, Zika can trigger paralysis. Zika infection during pregnancy could cause serious birth defects.
There’s no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika. Instead, the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes rest, hydration and medication for fever and pain. However, research is underway for a Zika vaccine and is in the testing phase. This is a disease which has been found to exist for fewer years than the others and there are still no reliable statistics on its infection and fatality rates. Repellent Lotions like Catche are significant in this context as a proactive prevention technique.
In a world where it is next to impossible to live in a completely mosquito free environment, our only practical option is to avoid being bitten by them. Unfortunately however the options we have had till date have been repellents that use chemicals with strong odours. While they can keep mosquitoes at bay, inhaling the fumes create a lot of respiratory issues or skin reactions for people allergic to them and can have harmful side effects in the long run.
This is where the idea of going back in time, to seek solutions from our age old traditions, becomes relevant. A few socially responsible enterprises like Muktha Ayurveda have come up with Ayurvedic, Non-toxic, Natural products for repelling mosquitoes. Catche Must-Quit-O ® is a brand of theirs that is working hard to introduce to us natural products that help combat the mosquito menace.
They work towards protecting us without harming our health and can be used in closed rooms. Catche brand does not have the chemical Transfluthrin, which causes wheezing, congestion or headaches. What’s more? Ayurvedic products online shopping is possible for you to get access to these ayurvedic mosquito repellents. Cow Dung based mosquito coils and Herbal Mosquito coils are gaining popularity among health conscious people.
If you want to know more about best Ayurvedic mosquito repellents available in the market log on to https://mukthaayurveda.com/
