Mosquito bites are not only itchy and irritating. But unfortunately, they can also cause more severe diseases.
With dengue cases rampant in Singapore, now's not the time to be lax about protecting your children. But what are the possible diseases your child can get from getting bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito? Read on to find out!
Mosquito-borne diseases you can prevent with a mosquito repellent
Zika Virus
Zika Virus is from the Aedes species mosquito. Although they are more active during the daytime, they can also bite at night. Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine available for this.
You would also not notice the symptoms right away. However, you may get a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes after 3 to 12 days.
Aside from directly affecting your baby, this can cause congenital disabilities if a pregnant mama gets Zika Virus.
West Nile Virus
People who get West Nile Virus do not experience any symptoms. Eight in 10 people will not feel anything after getting bitten by the mosquito-carrying diseases.
However, others would develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. However, even after you heal from this, fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
Chikungunya Virus
The Chikungunya Virus is common in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Most of the cases of this disease are from living or traveling to the areas where the mosquitos carrying it are prevalent.
People who will contract this virus will have a fever and joint pain. Some other symptoms are headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for this yet.
Dengue
Dengue is another disease that is caused by Aedes mosquitoes. Almost half of the world’s population lives in areas that are at high-risk for Dengue. In fact, Dengue is the leading cause of illness in these areas.
One out of four people who will contract the virus will get sick. They will experience fever, aches, pains, or rash. However, it can also be life-threatening. Sometimes, the person with Dengue requires care at a hospital within a few hours.
Fortunately, a Dengue vaccine has already been approved. However, this is only for children aged 9 to 16 years with laboratory-confirmed previous Dengue virus infection.
Malaria
Malaria is a severe disease that is also caused by mosquitoes. This can be fatal if not attended by medical help right away.
People who have Malaria will get very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illnesses.
Four types of mosquitoes can cause malaria, and they are rampant in Southeast Asia.
Unfortunately, the people at most risk are young children and pregnant women. For example, in Africa, 90% of those who die from malaria are children under 5.
Are you using the right mosquito repellent for babies?
These diseases can be scary. There is no denying that. But, as mamas, it is our instinct to protect our children from any harm – mosquitoes included.
The good news is that the medical world can now cope with diagnosing and treating these mosquito-related diseases. A piece of even better news is that you can prevent mosquitoes from going anywhere near your baby.
All it takes is the right mosquito repellent. Here are the things that you should look out for in choosing the right one:
- Made With Natural Ingredients
- Dermatologically Tested and Hypoallergenic
- DEET-Free
- Works For Hours
- Moisturizes the Skin
- Eco-Friendly Packaging
If you do not want to look any further and want to protect your baby from mosquitoes immediately, then you can try the Mama’s Choice Mozzbye Skin Protection Lotion.
This is specially formulated to be safe and effective on babies’ skin and meets all the criteria we highlighted above! Just rub this on, and you will get up to 8 hours of protection from mosquito bites and the diseases they carry.
Even better than these excellent benefits, real mamas have nothing but raves about this safe, halal, and natural mosquito repellent. According to one Shopee review, her "baby did not get bitten after using it." Other mamas also love the non-greasy formula and how it is "not sticky and smells nice for kids."
If you want to protect your little one, click the link below to shop on Mama's Choice's official Shopee store or through theAsianparent and enjoy 30% off your total when you spend at least $30.
Stay safe, mamas!
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Best Mosquito Repellent for Babies and Kids: Everything You Need to Know