DEBILITATED BY A MOSQUITO

Tara never imagined a tiny bug could cause so much pain

Tara Rogers, 37, Buderim, Qld

Climbing into bed on a Thursday night in February this year, I noticed a red rash on my thighs.

It wasn’t itchy and I felt ne, so I assumed it was a heat rash from walking my daughter, Eloise, nine, home from school.

‘It’s been such a hot and rainy summer,’ I said to my husband, Darren.

The next morning the rash had spread further down my legs.

Maybe the cat has eas,

I thought, looking at our moggy, PJ, suspiciously. ‘That doesn’t look like ea bites, or a heat rash,’ my mum, Debbie, said, inspecting the hundreds of tiny, red pin-prick marks on my skin when she popped in for a visit.

I went to see my doctor that day but with no other symptoms it was dif cult for her to make a diagnosis.

She sent me home with an antihistamine and instructions to monitor the rash over the weekend.

I’d always been busy, juggling being a mum and working full time as a behaviour support practitioner. I also played squash, and went to the gym several times a week.

So it was out of character when, at 7pm, I was hit by a sudden wave of exhaustion so intense I went to bed.

The next morning, my hands and feet had blown up like balloons, and when I tried to walk to the bathroom my ankles hurt so much I could only manage a slow shuf e.

I googled my symptoms and the rst result was Ross River virus.

The article explained that people who lived in areas with high rainfall were most at risk because the mosquitoes that carry the virus breed in still water. Symptoms include a rash, in amed joints in the hands and feet, and fatigue.

Darren took me to the hospital and the doctor agreed that my symptoms were indicative of Ross River virus but, being the weekend, it’d take days to get a blood test result.

I spent the weekend being pushed around the house on an of ce chair by Eloise because walking was almost impossible.

On Monday I returned to my GP and a blood test con rmed the virus.

With an incubation period between three and 21 days it was impossible to know when I was bitten by the infected mosquito. The doctor explained the only recommended treatment was taking ibuprofen for in ammation, and rest.

Although the rash and swelling reduced after a week, the pain in my hands and ankles meant doing simple things, such as dressing myself or holding a cup were impossible.

I couldn’t even make Eloise’s school lunch without needing to rest afterwards.

A month later, I’m still in pain, and symptoms can last for up to six months. Thankfully I work from home, but can only put in an hour at a time before needing to rest.

I’ve learned how important it is to empty plant saucers and other containers of water after it rains to reduce mosquito populations, cover your skin with a light material when outside, and use personal insect repellent if you’re outdoors for long.

They may be tiny, but a mosquito bite can have a big impact on your life. ●

My hands and feet blew up like balloons