Academician Fyodor Vasilievich reported that mosquito bites, in addition to causing redness and itching at the site, may transmit parasitic worms that cause serious filariasis in both humans and animals.
Dirofilariasis is a parasitic disease characterized by a long incubation period of up to six months, with mild external symptoms. The only warning sign may be a sensation of movement under the skin at the site of the bite.
He says: "When the bite site swells and becomes inflamed, the worm begins to move under the skin and can be felt, at which point a doctor should be consulted immediately."
Dr. Irina Shakhmatova says: "We once extracted a worm that was about 20 centimeters long. It turned out that this parasite had been living in the man's body for more than six months, and during this period he did not show any obvious symptoms, until the tumor appeared. He felt almost no pain, but only noticed the growth of the tumor. I had to cut it open, and it turned out to be a threadworm."
According to doctors, ignoring a lump under the skin can lead to the formation of an abscess or boil. The most serious complication is the spread of the parasite to internal organs; if it reaches the heart, it can cause a myocardial infarction, while if it penetrates blood vessels in the brain, it can lead to a stroke.
It should be noted that filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by roundworms (Nematodes) of the genus Dirofilaria, transmitted to humans and animals, including dogs and cats, through mosquito bites. The parasite moves slowly within the body and, in humans, often infects the subcutaneous tissue and the eye area.
