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Brazil is one of the countries in the world that drinks the most beer in the world, with a consumption of about 70 liters per year per person. What is certain is that in summer, it takes more, because for many people, the hottest season of the year "asks" a cold. But you need to be careful. Some experts warn that this drink, especially in excess, can increase the risk of infection with dengue, zika, chikungunya and malaria viruses.
Carlos Brisola Marcondes, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (MIP) at the Center for Biological Sciences (CCB) of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), cites two studies, one in Japan and the other in Burkina Faso, who found that drinking beer attracts more mosquitoes to the drinker.
In other words, drinking increases the number of blood-borne insect bites that transmit diseases to those who consume them and, consequently, the risk of contracting the disease.
In Japanese research, an attraction of Aedes albopictus close relative of Aedes aegypti was tested on a dose of 350 ml of barley-based beer. In Burkina Faso, the researchers gave the participants an uninformed amount of sorghum (4% alcohol), locally called dolphin, to verify the result obtained for the species Anopheles gambiae malaria transmitter.
"In both studies, there was a significant increase in the attraction of insects," says Marcondes. "In addition, in the second study, there was also the stimulation of the theft of mosquitoes.This effect was attributed to the dispersion of alcohol by the body with the presence of ethanol in sweat . "
According to him, in the study conducted in Japan, the body temperature of the drinker varied according to his tolerance to alcohol.
"In Burkina Faso, however, it was observed that the reduction in body temperature and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaled (the latter not influenced by beer) did not have a significant effect on the body. 'attraction', reports Marcondes.
"The authors speculated that with beer, there would be greater production of kiromonium (the volatile substances emanating from the drinkers), which would attract more mosquitoes."
The female of Aedes aegypti is the transmitter of yellow fever, dengue, zika and chikungunya in Brazil – Photo: Pixaba y / Disclosure
This kiromonium and this alcohol are not the only substances that increase the number of bites. "Many attract mosquitoes, the best known being carbon dioxide and lactic acid (released by sweat), and there are certainly others that occur naturally in the body and repel them" explains Marcondes.
"For some species, children are more attractive than adults and blacks more than whites, but for others it is the reverse. Of great importance that needs to be explored by more scientific research. "
Rodolpho's doctor of medicine, Telarolli Júnior, of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Araraquara Campus of the University of São Paulo (Unesp), gives other examples.
"Some studies show (but this is not unanimous) that mosquitoes are attracted to individuals whose breathing contains more carbon dioxide, as is the case with those who come from exercise and metabolism is the fastest "explains" The same would apply to pregnant women who have a similar condition throughout pregnancy, as well as to overweight people or obese. "
According to him, hematophagous insects would be more attractive to people and areas of the human body with higher temperatures. "This is the case of febrile people, such as people with communicable diseases, such as dengue, for example," says Telarolli.
According to him, for reasons that are still unknown, some studies have shown that some species prefer to strangle O-type individuals with blood, to the detriment of those of other types (A, B and AB). "Other research has shown that wearing dark clothing is a factor likely to further attract mosquitoes," says Telarolli.
"So, in areas highly infested with these insects, it is prudent to wear light colored clothing and type O blood carriers should be extra careful."
What can be concluded, according to Marcondes, is that exhaled skin and air exude substances that influence the preference of mosquitoes, differentiating individuals and major insects from having a preference for children different from the one they have for adults.
"There are also variations between races," he says. "But the chemical ecology of their attraction is a difficult subject and still poorly understood.Hematophagy (inversion of the blood) of these animals depends on complex factors involving the sense of smell and vision, the latter mainly in diurnal species such as the tsetse fly, sleeping sickness and our well-known Aedes aegypti . "
How to protect yourself from mosquito bites
For him, studies should be carried out with other beverages, in addition to beer, check if it is the only one. alcohol that affects mosquitoes or something characteristic of it. "It would also be very important to develop tests in Brazil with insects belonging to different groups, such as flaccids, sandflies (leishmaniasis flies), maruins and drinks consumed nationally, such as cachaça", a- he declared.
"With little work on the subject, it is an area of open research, which is of great importance for health."
Another factor not studied to increase the number of bites is the probable reduction of the defense capacity against the bites of people who drink excessively. "Drunk skin has no owner," jokes Marcondes. "So, beware of drinking, especially in large quantities, as this can increase the risk of infection with malaria, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases."
Hence the importance of new studies. Especially when we know that one of the main determinants of the transmission of diseases of insecticide origin is the frequency of bites. "Thus, the factors that influence their quantity are of epidemiological importance," says Marcondes.
"Thus, for example, malaria control is more effective if it targets mainly people favored by mosquitoes.Pregnant women are the ones most attracted by them"
Some simple measures help protect bites d & # 39; insects. "Avoiding places where mosquitoes circulate, such as areas near rivers, gardens or other areas infested with insects, is one of them," says Telarolli.
"Do not wear dark clothing when you have to go to these places, use repellents, which should be applied to the clothing and not directly to the skin, keep the house with screens when you live in areas infested and when you drink alcohol or, in the case of pregnant women, repeated care with mosquitoes are other steps to take. "
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