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Published on: May 31, 2020
[Asian tiger mosquito bites: perception of the affected population after Aedes albopictus became established in
1Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Mútua de Terrasa, Barcelona, España. 25010ncb@comb.es
Introduction:
The presence of Aedes albopictus was detected in Spain in 2004 and it has now become fully established, causing significant discomfort among the population in the affected areas.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the arrival of A albopictus and its subsequent establishment on the population a year after being detected in Spain.
Material And Methods:
A survey questioned 309 users of the Valldoreix-Sant Cugat Healthcare Center about their knowledge of Aedes albopictus, the characteristics of bites by this insect, and their attitude to prevention and treatment.
Results:
Ninety one percent of respondents knew about the tiger mosquito. Sixty-one percent (66 % of women and 53 % of men) had reported suffering bites attributed to this insect. The most common type of bite was a small swelling (78 %) and the most common site was the legs (93 %). Children had a greater number of lesions and a more generalized distribution. Blistering lesions were more frequent in women. Itching was very intense (65 %), particularly in women (71 %) and children (76 %). The majority of patients (80 %) did not seek attention from their health care services and 36 % consulted their pharmacist. Fifty percent (61 % of women and 47 % of men) treated their bites, mainly with topical corticosteroids (56 %) and antihistaminics (26 %). Forty-six percent of respondents mainly children reported use of insect repellents.
Conclusion:
The arrival of the Asian tiger mosquito has had a major impact on the population, with a lower quality of life and a deterioration in skin health, due to the numerous and irritating bites.
