Mosquito Bite Triggers Chronic Illness in British Man Post-Holiday

[snoop1130]

Picture of Ross Constable courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

A seemingly harmless mosquito bite during a dream holiday in Thailand turned nightmarish for Ross Constable, a 48-year-old art teacher from Timperley, Cheshire. Upon returning from his family trip to Phuket, Ross began experiencing severe symptoms, initially resembling flu. After extensive tests, he was diagnosed with dengue fever—a mosquito-borne illness known in tropical regions.

 

However, it wasn't just dengue that changed Constable's life. He developed Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological disorder marked by tics that drastically impacted his daily life. While dengue fever doesn't directly cause Tourette’s, the neurological complications from his condition may have triggered it.

 

 

 

Constable faced a cascade of health issues including anxiety, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms, which he tackles with support from family and friends, deciding against medication that left him feeling detached. Now, he uses his art as an outlet, with an upcoming exhibit at Hepplestone Art Gallery in Wilmslow on May 8. This aims to inspire others through the healing power of nature, support, and self-acceptance.

 

Picture of Phuket Old Town courtesy of BucketListly

 

Constable’s story highlights the unforeseen dangers lurking behind a single mosquito bite, offering a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of life and the resilience of the human spirit. His journey through illness and recovery illustrates that strength can emerge from the most unexpected places, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-17

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

28 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A seemingly harmless mosquito bite during a dream holiday in Thailand turned nightmarish for Ross Constable, a 48-year-old art teacher from Timperley, Cheshire. Upon returning from his family trip to Phuket, Ross began experiencing severe symptoms, initially resembling flu. After extensive tests, he was diagnosed with dengue fever—a mosquito-borne illness known in tropical regions.

 

These mozzies are nasty little critters.

A friend had a mosquito bite that eventually led to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

He eventually become totally paralysed and in an ICU for a couple of months.

Still not fully recovered 20 years later.

[Gottfrid]

Sure, blame Thailand and the mosquito´s.

 

[Cameroni]

Nothing good ever comes from Phuket. There, I said it.

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Sure, blame Thailand and the mosquito´s.

 

So, he'd been in Thailand and been bitten by a mosquito, quite easy to understand if you can read.

[Ralf001]

Brittle - Check.

Gofundme - Nope.

WTF !

Am jelly, would love to get tourettes !

 

[Tropicalevo]

20 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Nothing good ever comes from Phuket. There, I said it.

Not quite true.

I went there and had an eye lens replacement procedure at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

Tri-focal lenses.

My eyesight is better now than it was 50 years ago.

I no longer need glasses and cataracts gone.

 

Mind you, you can also get this procedure in Bangkok.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

So, he'd been in Thailand and been bitten by a mosquito, quite easy to understand if you can read.

Yes, but take the statistics about how many times a mosquito bite triggers Tourette´s syndrome. It´s more likely that it was there already from early age and just happened to be triggered at that time. Coincidence. 

[hotsun]

Dengue is no joke. I was lucky enough to get it when i was young. Dont live anywhere dirty, is the best way to avoid it

[Purdey]

A relative got malaria in the brain after visiting Koh Samet. She went insane for a while and was sectioned by her husband until the doctors figured out what was wrong. 

This is a tropical country. Expecting it to be similar to the west, can lead to trouble. Mosquito repellent is better than nothing. 

[harryviking]

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sure, blame Thailand and the mosquito´s.

 

🤪🤪🤪

[richard_smith237]

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sure, blame Thailand and the mosquito´s.

 

This isn't about 'blaming Thailand'...  I read the story as about highlighting the risks of mosquitos here, particularly the risk of contracting Dengue Fever - something many tourists may be unaware of....  I'm particularly cautious of my son catching it (when outdoors a lot at his school).

 

Its not a 'Thai bash' just because someone contracts Dengue fever in Thailand, its just a Thailand related story thats all... 

 

 

 

[Photoguy21]

How was it determined that he got the bite in question in Thailand? A mosquito bite can take up to 1 year before malaria becomes evident. Getting a bite today does not mean, if it is a malaria carrying mosquito, you will get the symptoms within a short time span.

[richard_smith237]

37 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

How was it determined that he got the bite in question in Thailand? A mosquito bite can take up to 1 year before malaria becomes evident. Getting a bite today does not mean, if it is a malaria carrying mosquito, you will get the symptoms within a short time span.

 

I'm going to take a wild guess at this one,.... 

 

British Guy travelled to Thailand for a holiday and got bitten my a Mosquito carrying Dengue Fever, developed a fever by the time he got home and was diagnosed with 'Dengue Fever'.... 

 

Hardly a stretch of the imagination...  

 

Dengue Fever has an incubation period of approx 4-10 days (its not Malaria).

[Paul Henry]

Hotsun appears to be under a missapprehension that unclean areas are are synonymous with mosquitos.There is no connection.Mosquito borne deases are found in the best suburbs of some of the best cities in the world. If the the breeding conditions are right and the specie of  mosquito is pesent they will multiply  and spread the deases that that species carries. 

[Kinok Farang]

On 3/17/2025 at 7:03 PM, Ralf001 said:

Brittle - Check.

Gofundme - Nope.

WTF !

Am jelly, would love to get tourettes !

 

My favourite vids on YT.Funnier than any professional comedian.

[Kinok Farang]

11 hours ago, hotsun said:

Dengue is no joke. I was lucky enough to get it when i was young. Dont live anywhere dirty, is the best way to avoid it

Expect a big exodus from Pattaya then.

[Bangkok Black]

Now that doesn't sound good.

Hence why I don't wear shorts anymore.

I am a magnet for mozzies, sandflies and anything else that can bite.

All have to do is step out of the house and within 10 seconds I get swamped no joke

[Sigmund]

This news needs to be viral spread all over western media as to inform tourists of the dangers of Thailand. 

 

The Thai authorities will of course do nothing much to exterminate mosquitos through public fumigation or similar. Such treatments are regularly done in various hot climate areas in South of Europe, with trucks moving and spreading the product that kills mosquitos.

 

And even when the treatment is done in Thailand, as in some villa developpments, they spray a deadly smoke mixed with DDT (that is a deadly agricultural insecticide that is cancer causing to humains) and that is banned in Europe for 40 years

[MalcolmB]

22 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

Now that doesn't sound good.

Hence why I don't wear shorts anymore.

I am a magnet for mozzies, sandflies and anything else that can bite.

All have to do is step out of the house and within 10 seconds I get swamped no joke

Wash yourself and your clothes more often.

Mosquitoes are attracted the smell of dirty feet. 

[Bangkok Black]

4 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Wash yourself and your clothes more often.

Mosquitoes are attracted the smell of dirty feet. 

washing and laundry are not an issue.I just get swamped no matter where I am

[norfolkandchance]

23 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

holy crap... you believe I have class.

that puts a smile on my dial.

You're welcome Dear Boy.

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

washing and laundry are not an issue.I just get swamped no matter where I am

Must be your sweet blood then.

[NorthernRyland]

Everyone gets bit all the time during most months of the year unless you never go outside. Clearly this is exceedingly rare or all of Thailand would have perished years ago

[Gottfrid]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

This isn't about 'blaming Thailand'...  I read the story as about highlighting the risks of mosquitos here, particularly the risk of contracting Dengue Fever - something many tourists may be unaware of....  I'm particularly cautious of my son catching it (when outdoors a lot at his school).

 

Its not a 'Thai bash' just because someone contracts Dengue fever in Thailand, its just a Thailand related story thats all... 

 

 

 

Sure, contracting Dengue fever in Thailand is not meeting any objection from me either. What does is that they all seen to have something to blame for Tourette´s syndrome. Most likely it was latent since birth and it was just a coincidence that it was triggered at the same time. Please read the science about this. 

[GammaGlobulin]

10 hours ago, Purdey said:

A relative got malaria in the brain after visiting Koh Samet. She went insane for a while and was sectioned by her husband until the doctors figured out what was wrong. 

This is a tropical country. Expecting it to be similar to the west, can lead to trouble. Mosquito repellent is better than nothing. 

 

This is why I stay inside my house with the ACs going 24/7, and rarely leave my compound, which I keep free of debris.

I have no need for window screens, just because I never open my windows.

 

Also, my bedroom window is completely boarded up and sealed against the dust here, with PM2.5 rising at the moment.

I have no problems with mosquitoes invading my house..

 

If I wish to sit outside on my veranda, I just use a couple of fans.

 

The increase airflow prevents mosquitoes from landing.

These bugs can't land in wind.

 

[Briggsy]

This story needs to be read in conjunction with the knowledge that, in the UK, if you can get "on the PIP", you get up to £10,000 a year tax-free off the government in addition to any other benefits or any wages or any other income. And then you can use that to then claim more money off utility bills, etc.

 

It has become a massive problem as every body is getting on it and the country can't afford it. There is a huge financial incentive to exaggerate or even invent medical conditions and their impact on your life.

[bkk6060]

Probably had a weak immune system as most people recover fine from this.

[Paul Henry]

Mosquitos arenot attracted to dirty feet! They are attracted to the ankles as this is the second highest omission of CO2 after the mouth from humans. Mosquitos are attracted to CO2 and dark clothing.

[Photoguy21]

23 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm going to take a wild guess at this one,.... 

 

British Guy travelled to Thailand for a holiday and got bitten my a Mosquito carrying Dengue Fever, developed a fever by the time he got home and was diagnosed with 'Dengue Fever'.... 

 

Hardly a stretch of the imagination...  

 

Dengue Fever has an incubation period of approx 4-10 days (its not Malaria).

Very possible yes but he could have also been somewhere else in SEA and contracted it there. Dengue is a combination of 3 types of Malaria. Get your fact straight.