| The most dangerous animal commonly encountered in the tropics and sub-tropics is the mosquito. Most of the dangerous mosquito-borne diseases are spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, which emerge from their slumbers at dusk and are vigorous in their assault efforts until dawn. They tend to be noisy fliers; they buzz. It is crucial in malarial regions to protect the family.
Night-biting mosquitoes also transmit a range of other serious diseases, including elephantiasis and various forms of untreatable encephalitis; take precautions against being bitten and this will also reduce the misery of itchy bites.
Aedea mosquitoes which have strikingly black-and-white striped legs and bite during the day can spread dengue fever and, in parts of South and Central America and sub-Saharan Africa, yellow fever. The mosquitoes responsible are common in tropical gardens; their bite is slightly painful and very itchy. They can bite through thin clothing so baggy clothing helps prevent bites.
Anti-malarial medicines do not afford complete protection, even if you are regularly successful in getting children to take the syrup or pills. Nor does prophylaxis prevent them from getting other mosquito-borne diseases. At the very least children must be meticulously protected against being bitten by mosquitoes between dusk and dawn. Journeys to a region with a high risk of malaria must be seriously reconsidered in the light of the special risks to children.
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