A mosquito-borne brain fever? Let's talk about La Crosse Encephalitis

Mosquitoes are very common in our country. Sometimes, we don't pay much attention to them, except for a little itch. But did you know that some mosquito bites can be more dangerous than a simple itch? Today we are going to talk about a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes, like dengue, but is not very well known, and can affect the brain. Its name is La Crosse Encephalitis.

What is La Crosse Encephalitis (LAC)?

Simply put, La Crosse Encephalitis (we will call it LAC for short) is a viral disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. When this virus enters the body, it causes inflammation, that is, swelling, in the brain tissue. In medicine, we call this inflammation of the brain 'encephalitis'. So, the condition caused by the La Crosse virus is called encephalitis. It was first discovered in 1963 in an area called La Crosse in the United States. That is why it got its name. This is not a very common disease around the world. However, it is very important to be aware of this because the symptoms caused by this virus can range from the common cold to severe enough to be life-threatening.

How is this disease transmitted?

The LAC virus is transmitted by the bite of a special type of mosquito. This mosquito is called the “tree hole mosquito”. The scientific name is `Aedes triseriatus`. These mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in a few different places. They mostly live in water that accumulates in places like holes and cavities in trees. Not only that, but they can breed anywhere in our environment where water can collect. Think about it,

• Old tire pieces
• Flower pots filled with water
• The coconut shells in our garden
• Trash cans
• If the gutters on the roof are not cleaned properly, the water that accumulates in them

All of these places are good breeding grounds for these mosquitoes. So if a mosquito like this is infected with the virus, when that mosquito bites you, the virus enters your body.

Who is most at risk?

Although this disease can affect people of any age, the majority of reported cases have been in children under the age of 16. Therefore, we need to be especially careful with young children. In addition, people who live in areas with lots of trees and forest, those who work outdoors, and those who travel to forested areas are at higher risk of being bitten by these mosquitoes.

What are the symptoms of this?

Symptoms can appear between 5 and 15 days after the virus enters the body (this is called the incubation period). But surprisingly, most people who are infected do not develop any symptoms. For those who do, symptoms can be classified as mild or severe.

How to diagnose the disease?

If you or your child has any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away. The doctor will examine the symptoms and, if necessary, order some tests. The LAC virus can be confirmed with a blood test or spinal fluid test. These tests look for antibodies, a type of protein that our body makes to fight the virus. After these tests, the doctor can make a definitive diagnosis.

Is there any treatment?

This is the most important thing we need to know. There is no specific drug or vaccine yet to kill the LAC virus. That means that treatment is only to control the symptoms.

• Common symptoms: Fever, body aches, and other symptoms can be managed at home using common painkillers . However, it is important to consult a doctor before using any medication .
• Severe symptoms: seizures , encephalitisIf severe symptoms occur, hospitalization is mandatory. In the hospital, the patient's condition is managed with supportive care such as respiratory support, IV fluids , and prevention of other infections. If you experience severe symptoms, you should immediately go to a hospital or emergency room (ETU).

Most importantly: How to protect yourself from mosquitoes?

The best way to protect yourself from a disease that has no cure is to prevent it before it occurs. So what we need to do is protect ourselves from mosquito bites as much as possible. There are several things we can do for this.

• Use mosquito repellents : When going outside, especially in areas with lots of trees, apply a mosquito repellent containing ingredients like DEET and Picaridin.
• Wear appropriate clothing: Wear long sleeves and long pants to cover as much of your body as possible. This is especially important for children.
• Protect your home: Install mosquito nets on windows and doors. This can prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites: This is the most important thing. Like dengue mosquitoes, these mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
• Remove old tires, coconut shells, and empty cans from around the garden.
• Keep water tanks and barrels tightly closed.
• Clean the gutters regularly and make sure that water does not accumulate.
• Do not let water collect in the saucers under the flower pots.
• Clean pet water bowls and bird waterers daily and add fresh water.

La Crosse Encephalitis, mosquito-borne diseases, brain fever, mosquito-borne diseases, childhood diseases, viral infections, encephalitis