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e-Medical
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Length of
protection from mosquito bites varies with the amount of
active ingredient, ambient temperature, amount of physical
activity/perspiration, any water exposure, abrasive
removal and other factors.
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Choose
a repellent that you will be likely to use
consistently.
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Always
choose a repellent that provides sufficient protection
for the amount of time that you will be outdoors.
Product labels often indicate the length of time that
you can expect protection from a product.
For long
duration protection use a long lasting
(micro-encapsulated) formula and re-apply as necessary,
according to label instructions.
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Follow the directions
on the product you are using.
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Sweating or getting wet
may mean that you need to re-apply more frequently.
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Repellents with a
higher concentration of active ingredient (such as DEET) provide
longer-lasting protection.
In addition to wearing
repellent, you can protect yourself and your family by taking these
precautions:
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Wear clothing with long
pants and long sleeves while outdoors.
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Apply DEET or other
repellents such as permethrin to clothing, as mosquitoes may bite
through thin fabric. (Remember: don't use permethrin on skin)
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Use mosquito netting over
infant carriers.
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Reduce the number of
mosquitoes in your area by getting rid of containers with standing water
that provide breeding places for the mosquitoes.
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How
to Choose & Use Insect Repellents
Mosquitoes, biting
flies, and ticks can be annoying and sometimes pose a serious risk
to public health. In certain areas of the United States,
mosquitoes can transmit diseases like equine, West Nile Virus, and
St. Louis encephalitis. Biting flies can inflict a painful bite
that can persist for days, swell, and become infected. Ticks can
transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, and
Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When properly used, insect
repellents can discourage biting insects from landing on treated
skin or clothing.
Why
You Should Use Mosquito Repellent
Insect repellent
helps reduce your exposure to mosquito bites that may carry West
Nile virus or other diseases, and allows you to continue to play,
work, and enjoy the outdoors with a lower risk of disease.
When
Should you Use Mosquito Repellent
Use repellent when
you go outdoors. You should use repellent even if you're only
going outside for a few minutes. Many of the mosquitoes that carry
the West Nile virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you're outside
during these hours pay special attention to using repellent.
Choosing
Insect Repellents
Insect repellents
are available in various forms and concentrations. Aerosol and
pump-spray products are intended for skin applications as well as
for treating clothing. Liquid, cream, lotion, spray, and stick
products enable direct skin application. Products with a low
concentration of active ingredient may be appropriate for
situations where exposure to insects is minimal. Higher
concentration of active ingredient may be useful in highly
infested areas or with insect species which are more difficult to
repel. And where appropriate, consider nonchemical ways to deter
biting insects - screens, netting, long sleeves, and slacks.
Recommendations
for Types of Repellents: DEET, Picaridin, etc.
A wide variety of
insect repellent products are available. Medical authorities
recommend the use of products containing active ingredients which
have been registered with the government agencies for use as
repellents applied to skin and clothing. In the U.S.A., EPA
registration of repellent active ingredients indicates the
materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human
safety when applied according to the instructions on the label.
Of the active
ingredients registered with the EPA, DEET and Picaridin have
demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed,
scientific literature. Products containing these 2 active
ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than
others.
1.
DEET
How the Percentage
of DEET in a Product Relates to Protection Time: A
recent study indicates the following:
A product
containing 23.8% DEET provided an average of 5 hours of protection
from mosquito bites. A product containing 20% DEET provided almost
4 hours of protection. A product with 6.65% DEET provided almost 2
hours of protection. Products with 4.75% DEET and 2% soybean oil
were both able to provide roughly 90 minutes of protection.
You should use a
higher percentage of DEET if you will be outdoors for several
hours. You can use a lower percentage of DEET if time outdoors
will be limited. You can also re-apply a product if you are
outdoors for a longer time than expected and start to be bitten by
mosquitoes.
Repellent products
that do not contain DEET are not likely to offer the same degree
of protection from mosquito bites as products containing DEET.
Non-DEET repellents have not necessarily been as thoroughly
studied as DEET, and may not be safe for use on children.
Instructions
for Use:
Always follow the
recommendations appearing on the product label when using
repellent.
When using
repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them
on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it
sparingly around their ears. Do not apply repellent to children's
hands. (Children may put their hands in their mouths.) Do not
allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have
an adult do it for them. Keep repellents out of reach of children.
Do not apply repellent to skin under clothing. If repellent is
applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again.
Is
DEET use safe for Pregnant or Nursing Women?
There are no
reported adverse events following use of repellents containing
DEET in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Are
Products Containing DEET Safe for Children?:
DEET products can
be used safely on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Committee on Environmental Health has recently cited: "Insect
repellents containing DEET with a concentration of 10% appear to
be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used
according to the directions on the product labels."
The AAP and other
experts suggest using repellent with low concentrations of DEET on
infants over 2 months old. Other guidelines suggest using
repellents containing DEET after children are 2 years of age.
2.
Other
repellents:
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Picaridin (KBR
3023)
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Oil of lemon
eucalyptus [p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD): A plant based
repellent, is also a registered and effective product. In two
recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus
was tested against mosquitoes found in the US, it provided
protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of
DEET.
Oil of lemon
eucalyptus has not been tested against mosquitoes that spread
malaria and some other diseases which occur internationally.
Permethrin is
highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent.
Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes
and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated
laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied
following the label instructions. Some commercial products are
available pretreated with permethrin.
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