Bug Bites Can Be More than Just a Nuisance

Many of us take advantage of the warmer months by spending more time outside with family and friends and vacationing, sometimes in locations with tropical or subtropical climates. Hotter temperatures typically bring about increased insect activity.

Bugs are cold-blooded creatures that can’t produce their own body heat. For this reason, temperature plays an important role in their locational prevalence. In addition, our presence in these same environments raises the likelihood that, at some point, we’ll be bitten.

Insect bites are a commonplace annoyance, often resulting in skin irritation and itch. Bugs that bite humans or other animals are categorized as “vectors”—living organisms that can transmit pathogens in their venom or saliva. These bites can require a much greater level of attention. Some insects are bloodsucking and may ingest disease-producing microorganisms they acquired from a previous host. Once a vector becomes infectious, it’s capable of transmitting that same pathogen for the rest of its life.

The most common insect vectors are mosquitoes and ticks. Mosquitoes can pass along at least 20 viral or parasitic illnesses and are best known for spreading malaria, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. Ticks can circulate at least a half dozen viral or bacterial illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Other insect vectors include fleas, lice, and different kinds of flies.

Some insects spread pathogens in a more mechanical manner in that disease-causing agents become attached to their external body parts. For example, bacteria like salmonella can be transferred from contaminated sources by house flies to food, surfaces, and even open wounds.

Preventing vector-borne ailments requires a combination of personal protective measures, including using insect repellents containing active ingredients like DEET or picaridin on exposed skin and clothing. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks, especially during peak insect activity hours like dawn and dusk, provides another barrier.

If you’ve been bitten by an insect and experience a fever, chills, headache or muscle aches, and/or a rash, it’s important to immediately seek medical attention. A doctor can diagnose a vector-borne disease with a physical exam and an update on your recent travel. Lab tests (blood and urine) will likely be involved, and your physician may prescribe antibiotics. These drugs are not disqualifying after 24 hours if you don’t exhibit side effects and the underlying symptoms of the illness don’t impact your performance.

Other treatments may also be recommended, including over-the-counter pain medicine, which can relieve sore muscles and a fever.

Some insect-borne diseases can cause long-term symptoms that affect your quality of life. Lyme disease, for example, can cause sore muscles and fatigue for an extended period. The Zika virus can be passed on to a baby and result in microcephaly (a condition that causes the head to be abnormally small) and can affect intellectual development.

Bites from spiders—which are arachnids, not insects—can be just as problematic. All spiders produce venom, which they use to paralyze and kill their prey. Fortunately, most aren’t aggressive toward humans, and their fangs are too small to puncture our skin. However, bites from black widows, brown recluses, and hobo spiders can cause severe headaches, muscle cramps, loss of skin and muscle tissues, and breathing difficulties. Seek immediate medical attention if you’re bitten by one.

Your destination and planned activities can determine what steps need to be taken to protect yourself from bug bites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers’ Health webpage (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/) provides area health notices and any medications and vaccinations that may be required. As always, consult your aviation medical examiner and your airline about the use of any medications and vaccinations required for travel and the minimum time to allow between when you take them and when you can fly.

Have Questions?

U.S. ALPA pilots with general health and medical certification questions are encouraged to contact the Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, ALPA’s Aeromedical Office, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., mountain time. Additional information is available on the AMAS website at AviationMedicine.com, including related materials in its medical article database. ALPA members based in Canada should contact ALPA Canada’s Aeromedical consultant at 800-561-9576 ext. 8312 or visit pilotmd.ca for assistance.