Along with outdoor summer fun for kids come bug bites—and parents worried about insect-borne illnesses. UMass Medical School pediatric infectious disease specialist Christina Hermos, MD, explains how parents can protect their children against the most common insect-borne illnesses and the bites that transmit them in these Expert’s Corner videos.
The two mosquito-borne illnesses of concern are West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, according to Dr. Hermos, assistant professor of pediatrics.
“The more common one is West Nile Virus,” she said. “The second is Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and luckily Triple E, as it is also known, is much rarer than West Nile Virus, but it can be more severe.”
Fortunately, Hermos emphasizes, there are simple and effective ways parents can reduce the chances their child will get mosquito bites.
Hear more from Hermos in the Expert’s Corner video What mosquito-borne diseases should I worry about?
The other insect to be wary of is the common deer tick, which carries and transmits Lyme disease.
“It is typically the nymph stage of the tick that is most infectious, and they are quite small, just a few millimeters—the size of a pencil tip,” Hermos noted. “If you find a tick like that and it appears to have been on your child for over 24 to 48 hours, then the potential for having contracted Lyme disease from the tick is a little bit higher.”
In addition to describing the most effective method for removing ticks, Hermos explains what signs and symptoms might indicate infection, and when antibiotics may or may not be prescribed. Hear more in What should I do if my child is bit by a tick?
