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NATURE
Irritating bugs thrive after rains
By Liz NARTOWICZ
lnartowicz@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
As children and adults alike welcome the summer season filled with tan lines and barbecues, they also greet the notorious picnic crashers known as mosquitoes.
Common to the summer scene, mosquitoes may be in full force this year because of the large amount of rain. An employee at First Med, 2323 Ridge Ct., said she could not release patient records, but said the increase in allergic reactions to mosquito stings was apparent, especially in children.
Mosquitoes thrive near areas of standing water where they lay their eggs. Any extra, neglected puddles lying around could increase their numbers.
Besides the annoyance of additional stings — mosquitoes sting, they do not bite — the possible rise in mosquitoes can be a threat to one's health. Mosquito stings can cause severe allergic reactions and transmit a variety of diseases, including the West Nile Virus. It is important to know the difference between a regular sting and an allergic reaction to a sting so that you can get medical help, said physician Ron Weiner, asthma and allergy specialist for Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
In Kansas, the worrisome insects are bees, wasps, white hornets, yellow jacket hornets and mosquitoes, said Weiner. A normal reaction from the stings of these insects involves the expected symptom of an uncomfortable, itchy rash. The rash is a result from the proteins in the insect's venom Weiner said.
"Swelling, tenderness and pain is common and expected with a sting." Weiner said. "This is not an allergic reaction. It is when the rash spreads from one joint to the next that there is a problem."
A rash normally stays within the span of a quarter surrounding the point of entry. It is when this rash becomes larger, painful to the touch, heated or raised significantly that an allergic reaction has occurred, Weiner said. The cause of an allergic reaction is a body's overproduction of antihistamines. The body produces antihistamines after being stung to fight against the insect's venom.
DON'T GET BITTEN!
Helpful tips to avoid mosquitoes:
Remove all standing water when possible. This includes clogged gutters, pool covers and any rain-filled containers left outside.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes.
Wear long sleeves, pants, socks and closed shoes when outdoors. Wear mosquito repellents on exposed skin.
Avoid prime mosquito locations such as marshes or wetlands and encourage local officials to treat small ponds with larvicide.
Source: ActiveLifestyles.com
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them covered when they aren't in use.
If experiencing an allergic reaction, the infected person should seek medical attention immediately. If left untreated, the venom could spread to the heart or lungs and be fatal, Weiner said. Another important reason to seek medical attention from a troublesome sting is to rule out diseases such as West Nile Virus.
Although rare, cases of West Nile Virus have appeared in Kansas. According to the Centers for Disease Control Web site, www.cdc.gov, 91 human cases, four resulted in death, were reported in 2003. Forty-three human cases were reported in 2004; two resulted in deaths. Currently, no cases have been reported for this year.
Edited by Erin M. Droste