How To Prevent Mosquito Bites

In almost 8 years of staying here in a malaria country, I only have made aware of two things in preventing mosquito bites. First, don't stay outside at night times and eat regularly, because the moment you feel low energy Malaria attacks. I never used to know these things I would going to share. But I must admit, its never gonna be too late to know things, it is about time to know these things I should say. I was shocked and stunned upon knowing this: A BIG ATTRACTOR FOR MOSQUITOS IS THE CARBON DIOXIDE FROM OUR BREATHING. It also seems they’re attracted by scents like perfumes, sweat, body odor as well as body heat. Unless you stop using shampoos, soaps, deodorants and detergents–it’s hard to be scent free.

From what I understand, DEET has proven to be the most effective mosquito repellent. DEET is pretty crazy stuff though, so if you’d like to try less harsh solutions, there are plenty of tips below for you to give a shot.

Something to keep in mind: Since some people seem to be a mosquito magnet while others around them don’t get a single bite, I have the suspicion that there could be a personal body chemistry factor involved. And that could explain why a remedy that works for one person, may not work for another.

I suspect that’s why some people swear by the Bounce sheet method, or the Avon Skin So Soft solution, while others have a different experience. Bounce nor the Avon SSS did a thing for me btw, but I did include them in the list below. I know a few people who SWEAR by them.

Basics for Mosquito Bite Prevention:

• Wear light colored clothing, mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothes
• Keep your body covered as much as possible (including wearing a hat), although mosquitoes can find their way through the fabric–it does cut down on bites

Mosquito Bite Prevention Home Remedies & Tips

Vanilla Extract: A few different recommendations for this one, each contradicting the other. Some say to dab Vanilla Extract on your pulse points, others say to rub it all over your skin & dab your clothes. Some say the cheap stuff is what you have to use, others say the real, pure Vanilla is the only thing that will work. Some say to apply it full strength, others say you can dilute it with water and spray it on. Play around with Vanilla to see what gives you best results–there are plenty of believers for this one as a mosquito deterrent so I think there’s something to it.

Garlic: This isn’t a favorite thing to do day-to-day, but if you’re going camping or hiking through heavily mosquito infested areas, try a garlic powder and water paste. Apply to pulse points, behind knees, on shoes and ankles and a dab or two on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and kneck. Remember–keep out of eyes. And maybe stay out of public places too ;).

Essential Oils: Mix choice of essential oils with rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel, or distilled water and spritz on body or directly on cloth to rub on body (shake before each use). Or add a few drops in baby oil or olive oil then rub on skin. You can also apply drops along a strip of fabric (cotton) and tie around wrist. *Make sure to avoid mouth and eye areas when using essential oils.

• Citronella oil
• Lavender oil
• Catnip oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Pennyroyal oil

*Seems to be strongly recommended

• Tansy oil

*Seems to be strongly recommended

• Basil oil
• Thyme oil
• Cedar oil
• Tea Tree oil
• Peppermint oil
• Lemongrass oil

Plants: Break off leaves and crush them roughly, rub them all over your clothes and skin. Toss the bruised leaves around the perimeter of your deck or patio. Also plant these in pots and arrange them around the patio. You could also infuse these in water and then use that as a spray.

• Citronella
• Lavender
• Basil
• Catnip
• Pennyroyal
• Tansy
• Marigolds

Commercial Products (other than DEET items)

• Avon’s Skin So Soft (straight or mix 50/50 with rubbing alcohol)
• Bounce Sheets (hanging out of a pocket or waistband)
• Listerine (mixed 50/50 with household vinegar then sprayed all over body)
• Vicks VapoRub

Household Hack:

Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard and bushes. Use a fertilizer hose attachment. Will need to be done bi-weekly (approx) or after a heavy rain.

Items to Eat (daily): Apparently the smell that comes out of your pores from a steady diet of the below deters mosquitoes. The items aren’t meant to be combined, they’re just different suggestions.

• Garlic
• B1 Vitamins
• Brewers Yeast
• Lemons

Proven False:

Lemon Fresh Joy & Dish of Water

10 Facts About Malaria

I have been working here in Angola for nearly 8 years now, and I can remember that I've only had 2 series of severe malaria so far, but with various mild ones! What I am trying to say is, anytime we can be lying in bed having very poorly condition if we don't take care, as we all believed that we have malaria parasite in our blood. I remember when I was dieting, I was down for 3 days because of malaria, since I didn't eat much and was in the end I was feeling fatigue, that's it, it was malaria.

I never used to know these facts about malaria, I only knew the basics.

Alternative Names: Quartan malaria; Falciparum malaria; Biduoterian fever; Blackwater fever; Tertian malaria; Plasmodium

Fact 1: Malaria is a disease which can be transmitted to people of all ages. It is caused by parasites of the species plasmodium that are spread from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes. If not treated promptly with effective medicines, malaria can often be fatal.

Fact 2: About 40% of the world’s population, mostly those living in the poorest countries, are at risk of malaria. Of these 2.5 billion people at risk, more than 500 million people become severely ill with malaria every year and more than 1 million people die from the effects of the disease.

Fact 3: One in five (20%) of all childhood deaths in Africa are due to malaria. It is estimated that an African child has on average between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of malaria fever each year. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa.

Fact 4: Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are two basic elements of malaria control. Early and effective treatment of malaria can shorten the duration of the infection and prevent further complications including the great majority of deaths. Access to disease management should be seen not only as a component of malaria control but a fundamental right of all populations at risk.

Fact 5: Inappropriate use of antimalarial drugs in the past century contributed to widespread resistance in the malaria parasite to drugs such as chloroquine, leading to rising rates of sickness and death. Over the past decade, a new group of antimalarials – known as artemisinin-based combination therapies – has brought new hope in the fight against malaria.

Fact 6: The main objective of malaria vector control is to significantly reduce the rate and number of cases of both parasite infection and clinical malaria. This is achieved by controlling the malaria-bearing mosquito and thereby reducing or interrupting transmission.

Fact 7: Long-lasting insecticidal nets can be used to provide protection to risk groups, especially young children and pregnant women in high transmission areas. This provides personal protection. The nets can also protect communities when coverage is high enough (more than 80% of people in a target community sleeping inside them). The nets are effective for a number of years (3 to 5 years, depending on models and conditions of use).

Fact 8: Indoor residual spraying is the most effective means of rapidly reducing mosquito density. Its full potential is obtained when at least 80 % of premises with malaria vectors are sprayed. Indoor spraying is effective for 3 to 6 months, depending on the insecticide used and the type of surface on which it is sprayed. (DDT is effective for longer periods, up to 12 months in some cases).

Fact 9: Pregnant women are at high risk not only of dying from the complications of severe malaria, but also spontaneous abortion, premature delivery or stillbirth. Malaria is also a cause of severe maternal anaemia and is responsible for about one third of preventable low birth weight babies. It contributes to the deaths of an estimated 10 000 pregnant women and up to
200 000 infants each year in Africa alone.

Fact 10: Malaria causes an average loss of 1.3% of annual economic growth in countries with intense transmission. It traps families and communities in a downward spiral of poverty, disproportionately affecting marginalized and poor people who cannot afford treatment or who have limited access to health care. Malaria has lifelong effects through increased poverty and impaired learning. It cuts attendance at schools and workplaces. However, it is preventable and curable.

This is what we get in working here, earning more than what we get in our own country, aside from working away from family.