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Diseases from Insect Bites

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Many insects carry diseases, so it is important to be informed about which insects are potentially dangerous and what to look for if you have been bitten or stung by one of them. Tick bites can infect the skin with bacteria, which can cause Lyme disease. Symptoms from Lyme disease include: fever, headache, nausea, jaw pain, sensitivity to light, red eyes, muscle aches, and stiff neck. It is critical to treat Lyme disease in the early stage. Another commonly known disease carrying insect is the mosquito. A bite from a female mosquito can result in malaria, one of the most deadly vector borne diseases in the world. Mosquito and tick bites can also result in West Nile virus, which was diagnosed in over 2800 people in the United States in 2005. Symptoms of this disease include: fever, headache, tiredness and body aches. Symptoms of severe West Nile disease are: headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Mosquitoes typically congregate around areas with water, such as birdbaths, gutters, or discarded tires. They also like to rest in shady places like bushes and weeds. Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are most likely to bite between dawn and dusk.

At times, the diseases resulting from insect bites do not manifest for years. For example, bites from blackflies in South America and parts of Africa can result in a condition known as river blindness. This condition can cause blindness several years after the initial infection. Contact with insects can also induce skin irritation. For example, exposure to arthropods can result in dermatitis, cellulites, urticaria, or blistering. There are also species of moths, caterpillars, centipedes, beetles, and spiders that can cause skin irritation.

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