Can mosquito bites be life-threatening because of West Nile virus?
Facts: Unlikely. Ever since West Nile virus came on the scene in the U.S. in 1999, many moms have worried about every mosquito bite their children get. No need to stress: While anyone can get West Nile virus, it’s not a big threat to kids. “The majority of children who get this virus have no symptoms — or they get aches, pains, and fever that go away within a few days,” says Robert Frenck, Jr., M.D., professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’s (AAP) committee on infectious diseases. And fortunately, kids rarely develop serious complications such as encephalitis (a potentially dangerous brain inflammation). To lower your child’s chances of being bitten, though, get rid of standing water in your yard (think empty flowerpots and wading pools) — a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. And, of course, dress your child in a long-sleeved top and pants when you can, apply a DEET-containing insect repellent (the A
