Insects and Their Diseases

I just read about insect bites on Web MD. It was a mistake. It lists all of the different types of diseases that one can get if bitten by an insect.

I'm too scared to click on the hyperlink for West Nile Virus--I may have all of the symptoms and then I would completely freak out. Is it better not to know?

Commercial Medicine

Last Monday I went for a bike ride through the forest preserve on the beautiful North Branch Trail. Even though I went during the middle of the day, when the mosquitoes are supposedly NOT out, I got a few mosquitoe bites. I actually wasn't worrying about them too much, even though I recently heard a terrible radio ad where a husband tells the story about how his wife was bitten by a mosquitoe, and then she jokingly says to him that she hopes she doesn't get West Nile Virus, and then she does get West Nile Virus and ends up in the hospital for 8 months half of which she spent unconscious. But then last night I found a bite on my leg that is surrounded by a 3-inch red welt! It doesn't itch very often, but I almost fainted when I saw it. I may call the doctor later today.