Summer insects can be annoying … and dangerous

The weather is (finally) starting to look a little more like summer. This means longer days, boating, hiking and bugs. In case you haven't noticed, when the sun shines in North Idaho the insects come out to play. In our area these insects include mosquitoes, ticks, bees and wasps. Most of these creepy critters are not dangerous, but merely annoying summertime pests.

Mosquito bites cause itchy red irritation that can last for two days to two weeks. The severity of the reaction is dependent upon the person's sensitivity to their venom. A couple of years ago, there were rumors circulating that mosquitoes can harbor HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Fortunately, this rumor is unfounded.

However, it is known that mosquitoes can infect people with West Nile virus, a potentially deadly illness. These reports have been greatly exaggerated, but are still cause for some concern. In 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 1000 cases of West Nile virus infection in Idaho, which increased substantially from 2005 reports. Symptoms of West Nile virus are flu-like, including fever, tiredness, headache, and body aches, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. In rare cases, the virus can affect the spinal cord or brain, causing encephalitis or other dangerous and even life-threatening complications.

Insect repellents containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) work effectively against mosquitoes, so if you're going to be outside for an extended period of time, especially in the woods or near a body of still water, spraying insect repellent on your clothing and/or exposed skin is a good idea. DEET is not safe for use on babies or young children, so make sure you read the package warning label carefully. There are family-friendly repellents out there, but they are generally not as effective as those containing DEET.

Ticks are another insect that can put a damper on summertime fun. These small arachnids are commonly found on wildlife, especially deer, but have no qualms whatsoever about getting their meal from the family pet or even a human. Ticks bite into the skin and attach themselves to feed on blood just below the surface of the skin. Ticks can transmit disease to their victims, the most well-known of which is Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria that affect the joints, heart and nervous system.

If you are working or playing outside, check your body and your children frequently for ticks. If you find one embedded in the skin, it is important to remove it promptly. The standard method for removing an embedded tick is to use rounded tweezers, grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin surface, and then pull with slow steady pressure in a direction away from the skin. Take care not to crush or squeeze the body of the tick, because fluid forced out of the tick may cause infection.

The most effective way to combat tick-borne diseases is to prevent them from attaching to the body in the first place. Spraying clothes with an insect repellent may provide an additional barrier of protection from ticks. Insect repellents containing DEET repel but do not kill ticks. Permethrin is the active ingredient found in many aerosol spray tick repellents that are designed for use specifically on clothing. Permethrin kills ticks on contact and has a low toxicity in mammals. Field tests done by the US military have shown tick repellents containing permethrin to be 90-100 percent effective in preventing tick bites.

Bees and wasps mainly mind their own business, but a run-in with these flying insects can prove to be a very painful encounter. Honey bees can be cute dancing through flower gardens, but not so cute if you happen to get stung. These insects can sting only once, as they leave their stinger behind in the skin. If you get stung by a honey bee, make sure the stinger is properly removed and then treat the area with baking soda paste or a cold compress. In most people, honey bees cause only a minor reaction with a red bump and some pain and/or itching.

Wasps and hornets are related to honey bees, but they can sting repeatedly, allowing a higher chance for a more severe reaction to their toxic venom. If a person has been stung ten or more times a toxic reaction could occur, which occurs when a larger amount of the venom builds up in the body. If this is the case, call a physician immediately.

Anaphylaxis is a dangerous condition resulting from a severe allergy to wasp or bee stings. This can include hives, swelling, abdominal cramps, wheezing or difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and shock. If someone has any of these symptoms after a sting, call 911 immediately for anaphylactic shock can be fatal. If the person has a known allergy to bees or wasps, they may carry an epi-pen prescribed by their physician; this device carries a dose of life-saving epinephrine. Follow the instructions to administer the injection, then call 911 or take the person to the emergency room immediately.

Insects are part of our way of life here in North Idaho. Though we may try to keep our distance from each other, this is not always possible. By taking a few preventative measures such as wearing insect repellent and checking thoroughly after any forays into the forest, we'll be able protect ourselves from these critters and the diseases they may carry.