What happens in the body
Mosquitoes of the genus Phlebotomus are smaller than mosquitoes and almost silent, so the bite often goes unnoticed. Together with the insect's saliva, a phlebovirus enters the bloodstream, which multiplies within several days and causes a strong immune response. It is she who is responsible for a sharp rise in temperature, aches and headaches. The virus does not damage internal organs, so the disease ends in recovery. After an infection, stable immunity to the same type of virus is formed, and local residents of endemic areas get sick less often than visitors.
- The carrier is the Phlebotomus mosquito, active at night and at dusk
- The incubation period is usually three to six days
- Not transmitted from person to person
- Seasonality - from late spring to early autumn
- After illness, lasting immunity remains
Symptoms
The disease begins suddenly; often a person can name the exact hour of deterioration. The temperature reaches 39–40 °C within a few hours. Very characteristic is pain when moving the eyeballs and when pressing on them, as well as redness of the scleral vessels in the form of a triangle at the outer corner of the eye. The face and neck appear flushed. There is usually no rash. After two or three days, the temperature drops, but severe weakness, sweating and bad mood remain.
- Sudden rise in temperature to 39–40 °C
- Severe headache, mainly in the forehead
- Pain in the eyes with movement and pressure
- Redness of the sclera and face
- Aches in the muscles of the back, lower back and legs
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Prolonged weakness after fever drops
What can be confused with
A sharp fever in the summer in the southern region requires the exclusion of dangerous infections first. Malaria gives attacks with chills and sweat, enlargement of the spleen. Typhoid fever develops more slowly, with increasing fever and bloating. Leptospirosis occurs with pain in the calves, jaundice and kidney damage. Dengue and other hemorrhagic fevers cause rash and bleeding. Therefore, it is not self-diagnosis that is important, but examination and tests, especially if the person has recently arrived from another country.
- Malaria - paroxysmal fever, enlarged spleen
- Typhoid fever - gradual onset, bloating
- Leptospirosis - pain in the calf muscles, jaundice
- Flu - cough and runny nose, winter seasonality
- Dengue - rash, bleeding, second wave of fever
- Leishmaniasis - transmitted by the same mosquitoes, but the disease develops later
Diagnostics
In the vast majority of cases, the diagnosis is clinical: the doctor relies on the season, mosquito bites, sudden onset and characteristic eye symptoms. A general blood test with leukocyte formula helps to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one: typically a decrease in leukocytes with a relative increase in lymphocytes. Additional tests are prescribed to rule out more dangerous diseases, especially when traveling abroad. Special tests for phleboviruses are not used in routine practice, and they do not change anything for treatment tactics.
- Examination and collection of epidemiological history
- General clinical blood test with leukoformula
- C-reactive protein
- A smear and a thick drop of blood for suspected malaria
- Liver enzymes and urinalysis for jaundice or edema
- Serological tests - according to the indications of an infectious disease specialist
Treatment and protection against mosquitoes
Antibiotics are useless for this infection because the causative agent is viral. Treatment boils down to bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and antipyretics, which are selected by the doctor. It is important not to use drugs that increase the risk of bleeding until hemorrhagic fevers have been ruled out. Weakness after illness is normal and goes away within one to two weeks. The main defense is to prevent the mosquito from biting, since there is no vaccine.
- Bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids
- Antipyretics as prescribed by a doctor
- Fine-mesh mesh on windows and canopy over bed
- Repellents on exposed skin in the evening
- Long sleeves after sunset
- Elimination of damp basements, garbage dumps and holes near housing