BOOK 5

PARTICULAR MEDICAL SITUATION

CHAPTER 10

MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES

V arious infectious diseases are frequently transmitted through mosquito bites or vectors. The topic of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction observed with bee stings, will be explored later in this book. Male mosquitoes do not sting people.

In a survival situation, we would likely spend more time outside, raising our risk of contracting one or more diseases spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is one of the most well-known illnesses spread by mosquito vectors.

A protozoan is a small creature that causes malaria. These germs enter your body when a mosquito bites you. The protozoa colonize your liver once inside the body. They then proceed to your organs and blood cells.

Malaria manifests as flu-like symptoms such as intermittent chills, fever, and sweating. As more of the protozoa's blood cells are harmed, the patient becomes anemic. The intervals between episodes get shorter over time, and organ damage could become irreversible.

Anyone who occasionally develops a fever accompanied by severe chills and sweat should be considered a candidate for treatment. The antimalarial drugs chloroquine, quinine, and quinidine are utilized.

The drugs indicated above may occasionally be used with an antibiotic, such as doxycycline or clindamycin. When patients consider traveling to areas where mosquitoes are common, doctors typically have sympathy for providing these drugs.

West Nile virus, yellow fever, and dengue fever are further illnesses spread by mosquitoes. The fewer mosquitoes around your getaway, the less probable you may contract one of these illnesses. By adopting the following actions, you can reduce the number of mosquitoes in your region and increase your chances of staying healthy:

•        Keep an eye out for wet locations that can act as mosquito breeding grounds. All water that is not necessary for your survival should be drained.

•        Fix any holes or flaws in the windows and door screens at your hideaway.

•        Exercise caution and refrain from outdoor activities at dawn or dusk. Mosquitoes are most active around this time.

•        When going outside, always wear long pants and shirts.

•        Keep enough insect repellents on hand.

Consider using natural solutions if you are hesitant to utilize chemical repellents. To deter bites, spread citronella-containing plants on your skin and clothing.

Reapply regularly when using essential oil to prevent insects, and feel free to mix different oils if necessary. You could utilize the oils listed below in addition to citronella oil:

•        Lemon Eucalyptus

•        Cinnamon

•        Peppermint

•        Geranium

•        Clove

•        Rosemary

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

The environment where a thing lives is called its habitat. It might resemble a lake, a forest, or the underside of a leaf. If you are a human, a town is probably where you live. Careful planning is required to prevent colliding with the elements in a not-your-own setting.

Your medical education should have a broad focus while also considering the kind of environment you anticipate inhabiting in the event of a disaster. Learn how to handle the medical conditions that are likely to arise in the environment you'll be in.

Numerous facets of the climate, particularly temperature extremes, can be dangerous. The effects of being too hot or too cold can harm humans. The body uses various techniques to regulate its internal core temperature, either increasing or decreasing it to the proper levels. The key internal organ systems required for sustaining life, including the brain, heart, and liver, make up the body's core. Skin, muscles, and extremities comprise the remainder, the periphery.

The body uses a variety of mechanisms to control core temperature:

Vascular constriction Blood arteries constrict to reduce flow to the periphery, reducing heat loss.

•        Vasodilatation Heat loss increases as blood arteries enlarge to accommodate increased flow.

Sweat is one example. The evaporation of sweat produces a cooling effect.

•        A shudder. By making heated actions, muscles generate heat.

•        Workout. Heat is produced when work levels are higher; heat is reduced when work levels are lower.

To adjust the body's temperature to the surroundings, layers of clothes can be added or removed.

Hypothermia is a condition brought on by exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Hyperthermia, also referred to as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, is a condition brought on by prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

With minimal preparation, many environmental causes of sickness can be avoided. Avoid scheduling lengthy outdoor work periods in the middle of the day if your location is warm. Provide a canopy, caps, or other sun protection if you must work in the heat. Make sure everyone drinks lots of water throughout the event and comes well-hydrated. While working in the heat, each individual will require 1 pint of water per hour. The precautions above could raise the risk of job injuries, dehydration, and sunburn.

Similarly, people who live in cold climates should consider the weather while planning outdoor activities to prevent hypothermia-related problems like frostbite. Children, in particular, rush outside into the cold without much thought about their clothing. Adults frequently disregard the wind-chill factor. Alcohol and drugs can cloud judgment and hasten the onset of a cold-related incident.

The healthcare provider's responsibility includes educating every individual in the patient's family or group about how to prepare for outdoor activities. Keep an eye on the folks you're sending out in the hot or cold weather as well as weather. If you don't, your surroundings turn into a powerful foe.

HEAT-RELATED EMERGENCIES

You can find yourself without shelter to keep you safe from the elements if you're in the woods or right after a natural disaster. In the sweltering summer, you will most likely get hyperthermia (heat stroke), a common ailment. Even in chilly weather, a person who is overdressed and dehydrated could suffer serious heat-related harm from vigorous physical activity.

Heat exhaustion or heat stroke are terms used to describe the negative effects of overheating. Heat stroke, which can leave a sufferer permanently disabled or even dead, causes permanent damage instead of heat exhaustion, which typically does not. It is an urgent medical matter that must be identified and handled immediately.

The heat index, a measurement of the effects of air temperature mixed with humidity, substantially correlates with the risk of heat stroke. The recorded heat index rises by as much as 10-15 degrees when exposed to full sun.

Muscle cramps or a brief loss of consciousness do not always indicate a serious heat-related medical crisis. Children running around on a hot day frequently get heat cramps. Usually, the issue can be resolved by removing them from the sunlight, massaging the troublesome muscles, and giving them water.

The body's core temperature must significantly increase to qualify as heat exhaustion. A thermometer of some kind ought to be included in your medical supplies because many heat-related symptoms might resemble those of other ailments.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion can also include either or both of the following in addition to cramping in the muscles or fainting:

•        Confusion

•        Rapid pulse

•        Flushing

•        Sweating

•        Nausea and vomiting

•        Headache

•        Temperature elevation up to 105 degrees

Heat stroke may ensue if no action is taken to cool the victim. Heat stroke, in addition to all the possible signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, can include the following symptoms:

•        Loss of consciousness

•        Seizures

•        Bleeding (seen in the urine or vomit)

•        Rapid and shallow breathing

If not treated immediately, shock and organ failure could ultimately kill your patient. The skin is probably dry yet warm to the touch; sweating may not be present. The body works to reduce its temperature until it reaches around 106 degrees. When thermoregulation fails, the body can no longer regulate temperature naturally through perspiration. The body's core temperature might increase to 110 degrees during heat stroke.

Not because it has been burned, but rather because the blood vessels are dilating to try and release some of the heat, you'll notice that the skin turns red.

The patient's skin may appear chilly in some situations. It's critical to understand that the body's core temperature is raised. When touched, a person in shock could feel clammy and frigid. This discovery can deceive you, but a quick reading from your thermometer will show you the patient's genuine condition.

Treat people suspected of having hyperthermia as follows:

•        Get them out of the sun or other heat source.

•        Remove their clothing.

•        Drench them with cool water (and ice, if available).

•        Elevate their legs 12 inches above the level of their heart (the position for treating shock).

•        Fan or otherwise ventilate them to help with heat evaporation.

•        Place moist, cold compresses on their neck, armpits, and groin.

Why the armpits, groin, and neck? Applying cold compresses where major blood vessels are close to the skin will help to cool the body's core more effectively. In the woods, your only option for cooling yourself may be to immerse yourself in a chilly stream. This is a smart choice as long as you closely monitor your patient.

If the patient is awake and conscious, oral rehydration can help replace lost fluids. Patients who experience mental impairment may "swallow" the fluid into their airways, harming their lungs.

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may seem like they could help lower fever, but this is not the case. These drugs don't function as well if the fever isn't brought on by infection because they are designed to reduce fevers brought on by infections.

Dress in weather-appropriate attire. In hot temperatures, tightly swaddling an infant in blankets is a prescription for disaster. Make sure everyone covers their heads. For example, a water-drenched scarf might work well in the heat. To help with heat dissipation, towel off frequently as our face and head produce a lot of sweat we produce.

Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Thus it's best to prevent it. One might easily lose body fluids and become dehydrated when working out or in the heat, especially if they are in poor physical condition. A key component of staying healthy and preventing heat-related illnesses is carefully planning your outside work in the summer heat and drinking enough water regularly.

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