Why I do not think I am dying any more than usual

[ianslife]

A friend just sent a concerned email and text pointing out that Malaria often starts with a cold. When I looked up the symptoms for both Malaria and Dengue Fever, a headache was almost the first symptom mentioned for both. I do not have a headache. In fact, I have very little pain. I'm just very tired, and have lost most of my appetite

Comments

[vegetus]

For reference the dengue carrying mozzies are the ones that come out in the daytime. So if they are biting you at night chances are they aren't carrying it.

Use repellant, ware a long sleeved shirt and trousers. Apparently they are also attracted to the colour blue but I have no idea if that's actually true or just an old wives tale.

[ianslife]

Those are the first things they say in the guide book. I am doing all of those where practical (it's too hot at night for longjohns), own a mosquito net, and use mosquito coils. I have, though, many many insect bites.

Yes: the species carrying Malaria is more active at dawn and dusk, and the species carrying Dengue is more active during the day. It was the end of the day at the time. Given that I am already ill, the risks are higher. They can also carry other illnesses; someone I met at Ko Phra Nang had been hospitalised with an infected bite.

To be fair to the mosquito, she is completely innocent in all of this - seeking only to feed children, and oblivious to the infection hitching a ride. But still, it was her or a risk to my health.