Ahh…summertime—the season for sun, fun and bugs! Whether you’re traveling on business or taking that much-earned vacation, summertime poses a higher risk of bug bites and stings. Depending on where you are traveling, creepy crawlies such as mosquitoes, bees, fleas, spiders, fire ants, biting flies and ticks can wreak havoc on your trip. Like mother said (OK, it was Ben Franklin, but our moms definitely remind us!), an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so be prepared!

What type of critters can you expect to, ahem…bug you this summer? Brian Brawdy, an outdoor travel expert, cautions travelers to be most concerned with ticks and mosquitoes. “These bugs caused the greatest number of infections last year,” Brawdy said.

Ticks

Ticks are small spider-like insects that bite (painlessly), fasten themselves onto skin, and feed on blood. Found in tall grass and shrubby vegetation, ticks can also live in the fur and feathers of birds and animals. Contrary to popular belief, most ticks do not carry disease. However, some buggers can cause Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis), a bacterial infection, especially in the Northeast region of the States.

Early symptoms include a red, possible bull’s-eye rash called erythema migrans (EM) that appears, on average, 10 days after the bite. The rash fades within a few weeks even without treatment. Other symptoms include profound fatigue, severe headache, fever and severe muscle aches and pain.

The LYMErix vaccine for humans has been withdrawn, so no matter where you travel, check yourself daily for ticks and pull them off immediately to reduce your chances.

Mosquitoes

April to October is mosquito season. In the United States mosquitoes were known as blood-sucking nuisances that left itchy welts behind. That changed a few years ago when a number of horses and birds were fatally infected with West Nile Virus, an infection that causes encephalitis (brain swelling) and sometimes death.

Soon after, the United States reported the first cases of human WNV and, according to the Center for Disease Control, human cases grew from an initial U.S. outbreak of 62 in 1999 to 4,156 reported cases, including 284 deaths, in 2002.

Although statistics seem alarming, it’s not easy to contract West Nile. It can, however, be risky for people with an impaired ability to fight, such as the elderly, young children, and those with a compromised immune system. Early symptoms, which appear five to 15 days after a bite, may include severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, disorientation, chills, muscle aches, pain and stiffness or all three, and require immediate medical attention.

If you’re traveling outside the States, be concerned with the Aedes Aegypti mosquito in Africa and South America that causes yellow fever—a viral illness—as well as the anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria, a serious flu-like illness. Large areas of Central and South America, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Oceania are considered malaria-risk areas. Mosquitoes also carry Dengue fever, primarily a tropical disease. According to the CDC, dengue causes a sudden onset of fever, severe headache, and internal bleeding and hemorrhage. It can also cause shock, hemorrhage and ultimately death.

There is a vaccine for yellow fever, but not for malaria and Dengue fever. Your pre-trip checkup should include any required vaccinations. However, infants, pregnant women, persons sensitive to eggs, and those with immunosuppressed conditions should not receive the vaccination.

Also, be sure to pack Benadryl for possible allergic reactions and a topical hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to decrease the itch.

Stinging Insects

They love flowers and sweet summertime smells, but their stings can be dangerous, especially to the millions with allergies to bees, wasps and hornets. There are two types of reactions: a local that just causes swelling, and a systemic reaction that includes wheezing, difficulty breathing and hives. If you’ve even had a mild systemic reaction, get tested before you travel and, if necessary, pack an epinephrine injectable pen to carry with you at all times. Don’t wear bright clothing when you travel and most importantly don’t panic and begin to swat.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are common throughout the southern part of the United States. They are very aggressive bugs that sting and attack anything that disturbs them. The stings burn and itch and should subside within an hour, but are followed by blisters. If you are stung, clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection, plus elevate and apply ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling and relieve pain. The stings are not usually life-threatening, but allergic reactions are possible. If you have hives or swelling of the face, eyes or throat, severe sweating or nausea, seek medical attention immediately.

Buzz Off

“The best ways to defend yourself from bugs,” Brawdy said, “are to remember the three D’s: dress, dawn and dusk, plus DEET.”

“In highly infested areas, you should wear light long pants and shirts and high socks too, tuck your clothes in and avoid dawn and dusk, but since not many people really do these, you should use insect repellent,” Brawdy said. “Spray the repellent on clothes and remember it won’t work on stinging insects.”

Insect repellent with a low concentration of diethylmetatoluamide (DEET) repels mosquitoes, ticks and other biting bugs when applied to skin and clothes. The higher the DEET concentration, the longer it will protect you.

A new non-toxic and safe treatment, permethrin, kills and repels mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. Permethrin-containing repellents (e.g. Permanone or deltamethrin) can be used directly on clothes, not on skin. It binds to the fabric fibers and remains effective for up to six weeks, even through washings, but should be reapplied after five washings.

Check out Ex Officio’s Buzz Off insect repellent travel apparel (www.exofficio.com) made with permethrin. The apparel is odorless and colorless but a bit pricey; however, it may be worth it for those who are traveling to highly infested areas. Sample prices: hat, $28; convertible pant $79; socks $18; long-sleeve shirt $79.          

“Repellent is important because the experts tell us to be careful at dawn and dusk because of bugs and between 10 and 2 for sun, so if it were up to them, we wouldn’t be out much,” Brawdy said.

Check the CDC Web site (www.cdc.gov) for a list of vaccinations you need and visit www.tendercorp.com and click on “About Bugs & Bug Tips” for more information on bugs you can find when you travel.