The malaria mosquito is one of the insects dangerous to humans. Horror stories are told about malaria mosquitoes and it is not surprising that they cause the death of more than half a million people every year. In Russia, little is known about them, and sometimes the centipede is mistaken for a malaria mosquito. Are malaria mosquitoes found in Russia, where and how are they dangerous?
Probability of infection
According to official sources, about a million people die from malaria every year around the world. There is also a malaria mosquito in Russia. Most of these representatives are in Western Siberia. Insects prefer a humid climate, forested, swampy areas.
Important!
Malaria infection can be prevented by vaccination, which should be given to all people living in dangerous regions, as well as tourists and visitors. As practice shows, not everyone is vaccinated, so there is a possibility of infection.
A malaria mosquito is dangerous to humans if it is a carrier of a dangerous disease. The source of infection is wild animals. An insect that has drunk blood does not become infected itself, but is a carrier of the infection.
There is no infection in the insect's saliva, but it is difficult to give a reassuring answer to the question of what will happen if a malaria mosquito bites. The virus is found in the insect's blood. During a bite, a mosquito breaks through the tissue of the epidermis and forms a wound. If you don’t resist and slam the pest, splashes of its blood enter the wound on the person’s body, and infection occurs. If the mosquito calmly flies away after biting and feeding, nothing bad will happen.
The body’s further reaction to the virus depends on individual characteristics and the strength of the immune system. The disease will either stop at the inception stage or begin to progress.
Diet
The diet of Anopheles depends on its gender. Males are “vegetarians”; they feed exclusively on plant pollen and flower nectar. Their oral apparatus is not adapted to drinking blood, since their sharp fangs have atrophied.
Only female Anopheles consume blood. They need a large amount of protein to lay strong and viable offspring. Their victims are people and warm-blooded animals. Accordingly, only females are carriers of malarial pathogens, Plasmodium.
Appearance of a malaria mosquito
Malaria mosquito
Fear has large eyes, which is why malaria mosquitoes are often imagined as huge. The centipede mosquito fits the picture of a carrier of a dangerous infection. The insect reaches a size of 60 mm, is distributed everywhere, lives in marshy, forested areas, and loves moisture.
Patient's appearance
A malaria patient looks apathetic. He often experiences weakness, so for the most part the person remains in bed. The skin is pale and moist. The skin is icteric. Often the patient is exhausted. The presented symptoms are characteristic of fever. The fever is often followed by high sweating. Yellowness of the skin indicates the duration of the disease, damage to the spleen and liver.
You may also be interested in the article “Subcutaneous parasites in humans: diseases and methods of their treatment.”
Features of the bite
There is a clear mechanism for how a blood-sucking insect bites. The malaria mosquito has a complex oral apparatus containing a piercing and sucking instrument. The parasite pulls its lips back and inserts 6 pairs of sharp needles into the skin. Holds with powerful jaws. Injects saliva under the skin, which contains an anticoagulant with thinning properties. The substance prevents blood from clotting and facilitates the feeding process.
At one time, a malaria mosquito can drink up to 5.5 ml of blood, which is almost twice its own weight - 3 mg; the number of bites is determined by the behavior of the victim. The abdomen stretches, the body fills with blood. Only at this moment does the risk of contracting malaria arise if you smack the parasite on your own body. It is better to carefully scare away the insect.
On a note!
A human is bitten by a female malaria mosquito, which needs blood to prolong the race. In one day, an insect can lay about 150 eggs. Under favorable conditions, sexually mature individuals of the new generation will appear in 2 weeks. The danger is that the female transmits the virus to her offspring.
Prevention and treatment of the disease
The easiest way to protect yourself from contracting the disease is to protect yourself from bites. Before a trip to the forest or a regular walk in the park, you need to dress appropriately: cover all parts of your body as much as possible, treat your clothes, hands and face with repellents. For going outdoors, there are special models of protective suits.
Important!
To date, a vaccine against malaria has not yet been invented. For several years, work has been underway on its creation in different countries.
If you are going to visit an area with a high percentage of malaria infection, you must take the following medications:
- Malarone;
- Quinine;
- Lariam;
- Delagil and others.
Taking the drug for preventive purposes begins 7-14 days before traveling to a dangerous area and continues to be taken after leaving the area for another 2-4 weeks. Treatment of the disease is carried out with the same drugs, which contain quinine.
Medicines to prevent malaria
Signs of bites
It is not always possible to notice who bit, but you can determine by external signs. What does a malaria mosquito bite look like - just like an ordinary squeak. A swelling and red spot appears on the body, and unbearable itching. When providing first aid for a mosquito bite, the symptoms go away on their own within 3 days, and after 2 hours the itching subsides. A photo of a malaria mosquito bite is shown below.
Habitat
Malaria mosquitoes live almost all over the world, with the exception of the Arctic and subarctic zones, as well as deserts. In Russia, Anopheles can be found almost throughout the entire country except the Far North. The taiga is home to the most frost-resistant species, capable of surviving and reproducing even in harsh conditions.
The most dangerous varieties of malaria mosquitoes live in the tropics, where they feel most comfortable due to the high temperature and humidity. Typically, mosquitoes settle near bodies of water, where they lay eggs and where the larvae subsequently grow, receiving from the water all the elements necessary for development.
Signs of malaria development
From the wound, the virus enters the general bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. The duration of the incubation period depends on the strength of the immune system; it can last up to 21 days. On average, symptoms of malaria appear a week after an insect attack.
Signs of the disease at the initial stage are similar to the flu:
- fever;
- temperature increase;
- sore throat;
- severe weakness;
- muscle pain;
- convulsions;
- dizziness;
- strong thirst;
- herpetic rash;
- headache;
- pale skin;
- nausea.
After a few days, the condition may return to normal. However, this does not mean that the disease is defeated. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites infect the liver and then enter the blood again. They destroy blood cells, which lead to a decrease in hemoglobin and anemia. After some time, the disease makes itself felt again, but the symptoms are much more complex, reminiscent of an intestinal infection - pain in the abdomen, liver area, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bitterness in the mouth. Strong signs of intoxication appear.
In this case, immediate assistance from a specialist is required, since the next stage will be brain damage, which can lead to disruption of the central nervous system, disability, dementia, and death. Other complications of malaria are coma, splenic rupture.
On a note!
Strong immunity can contain complications, but the disease becomes chronic with frequent manifestations. Without special treatment, malaria can take about 4 years to manifest itself, gradually affecting the liver. In other situations, immunity is developed and pathological microorganisms are destroyed.
How dangerous is an insect?
Anopheles (from the Greek Anopheles) or malaria mosquito is not dangerous in itself, but it carries the deadly malarial plasmodia. These parasites destroy humans.
Most deaths from mosquito bites have been recorded in the equatorial and subequatorial zones of our planet. The sick number in the millions. Modern medicine is concerned with these issues, and every year more and more new drugs for malaria appear. If a resident of a developed Western country becomes infected, his chances of survival are much greater than those of residents of poor African countries.
Protozoan parasites are the causative agents of a terrible disease. Moreover, the symptoms may manifest differently in each patient. The main ones include:
- high fever;
- constant chills;
- weight loss;
- complete loss of strength;
- vomiting;
- allergic reactions;
- anemia.
There are other symptoms that characterize infection. There may be an enlargement of the spleen, urine is emitted with blood, and the patient suffers from convulsions. Skin tingling, headaches, and various brain diseases often accompany the course of the disease.
To accurately determine whether a person is infected with malaria or not, you need to do a test that includes 2 blood smears. In laboratory conditions, it is determined whether there is a parasite, and if it is present, what species it belongs to.
Pregnant women and children are especially susceptible to infection. They experience severe symptoms.
Interesting! Scientists have discovered that female mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of an infected creature. It turns out that plasmodia during development in the body release specific volatile substances. The smell of a fully mature parasite becomes especially attractive to adults.
In Russia, a malaria mosquito can infect other dangerous infections besides malaria. They are treated only in a hospital setting and require observation for about 2 years.
First aid
If you are bitten by a malaria mosquito, you may experience a general or local reaction. At the site of the bite there is inflammation, swelling, and burning pain. After a couple of hours, the initial symptoms disappear.
Often a person experiences a stressful condition. It is based on overexcitation of the body. If a person is hypersensitive to poisons, an allergic reaction may occur. It is marked by reactions such as asthma, urticaria, anaphylactic shock.
If a person has an increased sensitivity to poisons, an allergic reaction may occur in the form of hives
First aid is to wash the wound with alcohol. Something cold should be applied to the fireplace. Next, the bitten person is put to bed and given strong coffee or tea. If vascular or cardiac activity declines, the following is administered:
- cordiamine;
- caffeine;
- adrenaline subcutaneously.
If the patient's condition has not improved, he should be urgently sent to a medical facility. A person is given “Suprastin” or “Diphenhydramine” - 1 tablet (against allergies).
Where there is a threat of being bitten by a malaria mosquito, everything should be done to destroy the source of infection. Mosquitoes can become carriers of anthrax, malaria, and intestinal infections. If there are cases of infection with dangerous diseases, they should be treated by a specialist.
To prevent a bite, use repellents and protective nets, and lubricate the skin with other products. If this is not the case, use gauze or handkerchiefs to cover exposed parts of the body.
Use repellent to prevent being bitten
Regular parsley will help relieve itching. Pluck it, mash it and lubricate the affected area with the juice of the plant. After 20 minutes, there will be nothing left on the body except a reddish spot, reminiscent of a syringe mark.
If you are planning to spend the night outdoors, cover exposed areas of your body with the leaves of burdock or other plants. Bonfires help a lot - flying parasites are afraid of them. It's better to sleep in clothes.
Experts' opinion
Treatment of malaria after a blood-sucking insect bite begins only after an accurate diagnosis, which is impossible without a laboratory blood test. Only after confirmation of infection will the doctor be able to determine the type of infection and prescribe appropriate therapy.
The patient's blood is applied to the glass. In the laboratory, the presented sample is examined under a microscope. When malarial plasmodium is detected, its type is determined. Also, to confirm infection, some clinics use expensive special tests.
Despite the fact that over the past half century a real breakthrough has been made in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, malaria still remains a dangerous infectious disease, often ending in death.
Today, doctors are confident that plasmodia can remain in the human body for a long time without manifesting itself in any way. That is why it is important to start taking medications at the first symptoms of malaria and continue even after recovery.
Interestingly, the improvement in well-being in patients with malaria often turns out to be false. Often, while the patient’s condition is visually satisfactory, the infection suddenly worsens.
Among the drugs prescribed by doctors for malaria after a mosquito bite is Chloroquinine. However, certain varieties of Plasmodium are resistant to these drugs. In complicated cases, drugs such as Sulfadoxine, Proguanil, and Artemisinin are used.
Scientific classification
According to research conducted in 2004, Anopheles belongs to the genus
which is divided into 6 subgenera:
- Cosmopolitan Anopheles. It unites 189 species;
- It includes 239 species that live in the tropics of the Old World;
- Four neotropical subgenera – Kerteszia (12 species), Lophopodomyia (6), Nyssorhynchus (33), Stethomyia (5 species);
- Two fossil subgenera are known from Oligocene deposits - (Germany, Anopheles rottensis) and from Dominican amber (Anopheles dominicanus).
