9.20 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

UAE safe of deadly bugs: Most bites not fatal

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

Snakes have been found creeping through residential communities; Hatta houses a poisonous scorpion and the redback spider has time and again caused panic among residents. But there is a slight relief too; residents do not need to worry about UAE's insects.

"We do not come across harmful insects much except for the wasp. In the UAE we have a quite safe environment," said GY Naroo, Emergency Medinine Specialist at Rashid Hospital.

And even the wasp, although unpleasant when it stings, does not harm its human target. Unless an allergy is involved; in this case the bite can be very harmful and kill.

Most of the insect bite cases that the emergency ward at Rashid Hospital are those of allergy from such bites, said Dr. Naroo. Allergy or sensitivity for insect bites are not uncommon. "We receive about 4-10 patients per month, and these are mostly new patients."

So how should a patient define whether his/her reaction to an insect bite is an allergic reaction, or a normal reaction?

A bite or sting from most insects causes itching and light swelling, only there where the insect has aimed. This is a normal reaction, explains Dr. Naroo. "Off course a local reaction will occur; you apply some cold water or garlic."

However, when the whole body reacts there is an acute case of insect bite, which requires medical treatment.

Dr Naroo describes: "The whole body reacts systematically. The bite affects the cardiovascular system, the blood circulation, and causes a drop in blood pressure. This results in the feeling as if the head is roaming, a curtain is drawn before the eyes, a fast heart beat and the person might collapse.

The reaction mostly becomes obvious as an allergic reaction after the recurrence of the same episode, as the body develops sensitivity towards this bite. It could, therefore, occur that the patient is unaware of the allergy until a particular insect bites twice.

"Some people are sensitive to a particular bite. Once sensitivity develops the immune system of the body becomes weak towards that particular insect. The result is an acute reaction.

"When a person has developed sensititvity and has respiratory problems, the severity of the bite can worsen, because the respiratory system is affected by the bite."

El Mahi El Tilib Gubran, public health pest studies specialist at the Public Health Services Department of Dubai Municipality reaffirms that allergy is the most common health hazard involved with insect bites.

"We have some insect that can cause harm, but there is mostly an allergy involved. Every body responds differently to an insect bite," he said.

Looking at the patients that come in to the emergency ward, it is the wasp that most commonly causes allergic reactions, said Dr. Naroo.

However, the doctor also comes across patients who were bitten by an insect abroad.

"I recall a patient who went to Africa and was bitten there by an African fly, and turned out to be sensitive. We are a tourist hub, so we also treat travellers. People should know which insect bit them so we can help them," he advises.

When a person discovers the sensitivity, he should carry an Epipen at all times. The Epipen is an injection which should be applied directly after the person is bitten.

This Epipen can make the difference, and if not applied and medical treatment is too late, the case can become fatal, said Dr. Naroo.

"Two months ago I received a case of an allergic man who had injected an Epipen after he was bitten by an insect.  It took him 45 minutes before he reached the hospital, but the reaction was very minimal.

"It all depends on how fast people react; people can die from an insect bite. Luckily we did not come across any deaths in our hospital."