Insect Stings Can Be Deadly

Protect yourself from insect stings and mosquitoe bites when travelling or going away this summer; it is advisable especially if you are travelling to areas where they are common.

More than 1/2 million people go to emergency departments each year due to insect stings; a small number die.

Malaria is a disease caused by mosquitoe bites, 30,000 international travellers fall ill every year due to it.

Recommendations

For those persons who have known allergies to insect stings the following are key recommendations.

-Consider an allergy shots

-Avoid all stinging insects including bumblebees.

-Be aware of factors that increase the chances of a serious reaction

The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction are:

-Tightness in the chest

-Swelling of the nose, lips, tongue and throat

-Dizziness and fainting -Loss of consciousness -Hives -Itching and swelling in areas other than the site

Malaria is a serious disease caused by mosquitoes bites, The World Health Organization has an action plan to eliminate it by 2015.

If you are travelling to a tropical country, take precautions to protect yourself.

The symptoms of malaria are: fever, vomiting and headache. These are guidelines for international travellers: Click here.