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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 excessive, can increase the risk of infection with dengue, zika, chikungunya and malaria viruses.
The Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology of the Center for Biological Sciences (Brisbane) of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Carlos Brisola Marcondes, cites two studies, one conducted in Japan and the other in Burkina Faso, who verified that beer consumption attracted more mosquitoes to the drinker
. , the drink increases the number of blood-borne insect bites that transmit diseases to those who consume them, and therefore the risk of contracting the disease.
In Japanese research, a dose of 350 ml of barley-based beer was tested for attractiveness. from Aedes albopictus close relative of Aedes aegypti . In Burkina Faso, the researchers gave the participants an uninformed amount of sorghum (4% alcohol), locally called dolphin, to verify the result obtained on 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 "In Burkina Faso, however, it was observed that the reduction of body temperature and the amount of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO 2) (the latter uninfluenced Marcondes,
"The authors speculated that beer would produce more kiromonium (volatile substances emitted by drinkers), which would attract more mosquitoes."
Ce which attracts mosquitoes
These kiromoni and alcohol are not the only substances that increase the number of bites. "Some attract mosquitoes, the best known being carbon dioxide and lactic acid (released by sweat ), and there are certainly others naturally present in the body that repel them. "
" For some species, children are more attractive than adults and blacks more than whites, but they do not. is the reverse for d & # 39; ;other. This is an area of great importance that needs to be explored by more scientific research. "
Doctor of Public Health Rodolpho, Telarolli Júnior, Faculty of Science" Some studies show (but this is not unanimous) that mosquitoes are attracted to individuals whose breathing contains higher levels of dioxide carbon, just like the case of those who have just done physical exercises and whose metabolism is the fastest, "he says." The same thing would apply to pregnant women who have a similar condition while throughout the pregnancy, as well as overweight or obese people. "
According to him, blood-sucking insects would attract more people and areas of the human body of greater interest." C & # 39; This is the case for febrile persons, such as people with communicable diseases, such as dengue, for example, "says Telarolli.
According to him, for reasons still unknown, some studies have shown that There were species that preferred prickly individuals. with type O blood, to the detriment of those with other types (A, B and AB). "Subsequent research has shown that wearing dark clothing is a factor likely to attract more mosquitoes," says Telarolli.
"Thus, in areas heavily infested with these insects, it is prudent to wear clothing. light in color. "
What can be concluded, according to Marcondes, is that the skin and exhaled air exude substances that influence the preference of mosquitoes, the differentiation of individuals and the preference of insects for children, different from those that 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 blood) of these animals depends on complex factors involving the sense of smell and vision, the latter mainly in diurnal species such as tsetse fly. "
How to protect yourself from mosquito bites
For him, studies should be carried out with other drinks, in addition to beer, check if it is Alcohol that affects mosquitoes or something that characterizes it. "It would also be very important to develop tests in Brazil with insects belonging to various groups, such as flaccid, sandflies (leishmaniasis flies), maruins and beverages widely consumed nationally, such as cachaça. "
" the subject is an open area for research of great health importance. "
Another factor not studied to increase the number of bites is the likely reduction of the bites defense capacity of people who have drunk too much." Drunk skin has no owner, "jokes Marcondes . "Therefore, beware of drinking, especially in large quantities, as this could increase the chances of infection with malaria, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases."
Hence the importance of new studies. All the more so when we know that one of the main determinants of the transmission of insecticide-derived diseases is the frequency of the bites. " Thus, the factors that influence their numbers are of epidemiological importance, "says Marcondes.
" Thus, for example, malaria control is more effective if it targets primarily people who have a preference for mosquitoes. Pregnant women are among those who attract them the most "
Although new research is not yet done, there are some simple things you can do to protect yourself from insect bites. "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 it is necessary to go to these places, repellents, which must be applied to clothing and not directly to the skin, keep the house with screens when they live in infested areas, and when you have ingested alcoholic beverages or, in the case of pregnant women, repeated care for mosquitoes are other steps to take. "
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