Meningitis and Encephalitis Can Be Caused By Ticks and Mosquitoes

So often when we talk about certain illnesses that ticks and mosquitoes cause we warn of meningitis and encephalitis. “The usual symptoms are mild, flu-like, but untreated could lead to meningitis or encephalitis.”Does that sound familiar? Sure it does, but what exactly are these two things and what makes them more serious than a basic headache and fever?

Meningitis is swelling of the tissue that protects the spinal cord and the brain.

Encephalitis is actual swelling of the brain.

These directly affect the human central nervous system. Considering that’s basically our entire operating system, you can imagine that it can become serious. Both meningitis and encephalitis can have different causes but in reference to mosquitoes and ticks, they are both viral infections introduced into the fluids around the spine and into the brain. Early detection can make these things completely manageable, but without treatment, swelling of the brain can cause seizures, coma, or death. Other permanent complications can be caused as well, such as fatigue, weakness of muscles, memory problems, personality problems, hearing and vision defects, or paralysis.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Fall River

Both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis can be found in Fall River and both can be the cause of meningitis and encephalitis. The severity can depend on different things, such as age, pre-existing conditions, and timeliness of treatment. It’s important to protect yourself and family when outdoors by using repellent that contains DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus and to wear proper clothing when necessary. Also get rid of standing water around your home and keep an eye out for distressed animals. Random dead birds or other small animals should be reported and tested as soon as possible.

At Mosquito Squad of Southeastern Mass, we urge you to keep in mind that mosquito bites can lead to illness. Some are severe and some are not, but no one wants to deal with them either way. The best way to avoid them is to get rid of the mosquitoes altogether. Our barrier treatment will do just that. Professionally applied by our technicians every three weeks we will eliminate 85-90% of mosquitoes in your yard and keep them away. We bring you this information because we want you to understand the risks around you and we offer our services so that you don’t have to think about those risks in the comfort of your own outdoor living spaces. Call us today to plan your treatment program.