Serious Illnesses You Can Get From Mosquito Bites

Malaria

Perhaps one of the most commonly known mosquito-borne diseases is malaria. Malaria parasites accumulate and multiply in the human liver and infect red blood cells. Approximately 198 million cases were reported worldwide in 2013. Of those cases, approximately 500,000 individuals died, most of whom were African children. Symptoms of malaria typically occur ten to fifteen days after being bitten and include headaches, vomiting, and fever. Malaria can be life-threatening if left untreated due to blood disruption to vital organs. While malaria is rare in the United States and Canada, it can be found in over ninety countries, including those in Africa, South America, Central America, Oceania, and Asia. SUb-Saharan Africa and parts of Oceania are the highest-risk areas for malaria.

While medication for preventing and treating malaria does exist, it does not always work as well as it should, and individuals must take precautions such as wearing lots of insect repellent and putting up mosquito nets.

Read more about serious mosquito-borne illnesses now.