List of insect-borne diseases

List of Insect-Borne Diseases

Insect-borne diseases, also known as vector-borne diseases, are illnesses caused by pathogens and parasites in human populations. These diseases are spread by insects, which serve as carriers or "vectors" for the disease-causing organisms. The following is a list of some of the most common and significant insect-borne diseases worldwide.

Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable, and primarily affects children under the age of five.

Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever is a viral illness spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Zika Virus

The Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, through sexual contact, and through blood transfusion.

Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Most people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is most commonly found in rural and suburban areas in Asia and the western Pacific.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the bite of an infected sand fly. The most common forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral leishmaniasis, which affects several internal organs (usually spleen, liver, and bone marrow).

Sleeping Sickness

Sleeping Sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is transmitted by the tsetse fly. The disease is endemic in certain regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread mostly by insects known as Triatominae, or "kissing bugs".

Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis, or "river blindness", is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is spread by the bites of infected black flies.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasitic worms. Infection can cause anemia, kidney failure, and bladder cancer. Transmission occurs when people come into contact with fresh water infested with the larvae of the parasite.

Filariasis

Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms. It is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Loiasis

Loiasis, also known as African eye worm, is a skin and eye disease caused by the nematode worm Loa loa. Humans contract this disease through the bite of a deer fly or mango fly.

Gnathostomiasis

Gnathostomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of a species of roundworm. It is transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish or poultry.

Dracunculiasis

Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease, is an infection by the Guinea worm. A person becomes infected when they drink water that contains water fleas infected with guinea worm larvae.

Conclusion

Insect-borne diseases pose a significant threat to public health worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies are most prevalent. Prevention and control of these diseases is a major global health priority.