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Insect
Repellent Use
Q.
Why should I use insect repellent?
A. Insect repellents help people reduce their exposure to mosquito
bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile
virus, and allow them to continue to play and work outdoors.
Q.
When should I use mosquito repellent?
A. Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors and will be
at risk for getting bitten by mosquitoes.
Q.
What time of day should I wear mosquito repellent?
A. Many of the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are especially
likely to bite around dusk and dawn. If you are outdoors around
these times of the day, it is important to apply repellent. In many
parts of the country, there are mosquitoes that also bite during
the day, and these mosquitoes have also been found to carry the
West Nile virus. The safest decision is to apply repellent whenever
you are outdoors.
Q.
How often should repellent be reapplied?
A. Follow the directions on the product you are using in order to
determine how frequently you need to reapply repellent. Sweating,
perspiration or getting wet may mean that you need to re-apply repellent
more frequently. If you are not being bitten, it is not necessary
to re-apply repellent. Repellents containing a higher concentration
of active ingredient (such as DEET) provide longer-lasting protection.
Q.
Should I wear repellent while I am indoors?
A. Probably not. If mosquitoes are biting you while you are indoors,
there are probably better ways to prevent these bites instead of
wearing repellent all the time. Check window and door screens for
holes that may be allowing mosquitoes inside. If your house or apartment
does not have screens, a quick solution may be to staple or tack
screening (available from a hardware store) across the windows.
In some areas community programs can help older citizens or others
who need assistance.
Q.
How does mosquito repellent work?
A. Female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need the
protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are
attracted to people by skin odors and carbon dioxide from breath.
Many repellents contain a chemical, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET),
which repels the mosquito, making the person unattractive for feeding.
DEET does not kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable to locate
us. Repellents are effective only at short distances from the treated
surface, so you may still see mosquitoes flying nearby. As long
as you are not getting bitten, there is no reason to apply more
DEET.
Q.
Which mosquito repellent works the best?
A. The most effective repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide),
which is an ingredient used to repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks.
DEET has been tested against a variety of biting insects and has
been shown to be very effective. The more DEET a repellent contains
the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher
percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection
is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations
higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection.
Q.
How does the percentage of DEET in a product relate to the amount
of protection it gives?
A. Based on a recent study:
- 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
1 and a half hour of protection.
Q.
Why does CDC recommend using DEET?
A. DEET is the most effective and best-studied insect repellent
available. (Fradin, 1998). Studies using humans and mosquitoes report
that only products containing DEET offer long-lasting protection
after a single application.
Q.
Are non-DEET repellents effective (e.g. Skin-So-Soft, plant-based
repellents)?
A. Some non-DEET repellent products which are intended to be applied
directly to skin also provide some protection from mosquito bites.
However, studies have suggested that other products do not offer
the same level of protection, or that protection does not last as
long as products containing DEET. A soybean-oil-based product has
been shown to provide protection for a period of time similar to
a product with a low concentration of DEET (4.75%).
People
should choose a repellent that they will be likely to use consistently
and that will provide sufficient protection for the amount of time
that they will be spending outdoors. Product labels often indicate
the length of time that protection that can be expected from a product.
Persons who are concerned about using DEET may wish to consult their
health care provider for advice. The National Pesticide Information
Center (NPIC) can also provide information through a toll-free number,
1-800-858-7378 or http://npic.orst.edu/
.
Q.
I'm confused. None of the products in the store says "DEET".
A. Most insect repellents that are available in stores are labeled
with the chemical name for DEET. Look for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide
or, sometimes, N,N-diethly-3-methylbenamide. Choose a repellent
that offers appropriate protection for the amount of time you will
be outdoors. A higher percentage of DEET should be used if you will
be outdoors for several hours while a lower percentage of DEET can
be used if time outdoors will be limited.
Using
Repellents Safely
Q.
Is DEET safe?
A. Yes, products containing DEET are very safe when used according
to the directions. Because DEET is so widely used, a great deal
of testing has been done. When manufacturers seek registration with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products such
as DEET, laboratory testing regarding both short-term and long-term
health effects must be carried out. Over the long history of DEET
use, very few confirmed incidents of toxic reactions to DEET have
occurred when the product is used properly. (From the National Pesticide
Information Center [NPIC], EPA re-registration eligibility decision.
See http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DEETgen.pdf .)
Q.
What are some general considerations to remember in order to use
products containing DEET safely?
A. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label.
- Use
enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Don't apply
repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is
not necessary to achieve protection.
- Do
not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
- Do
not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
- Do
not apply aerosol or pump products directly to your face. Spray
your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding
eyes and mouth.
Q.
How should products containing DEET be used on children?
A. No definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about
what concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness
has arisen from use of DEET when used according the manufacturer’s
recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended
that a cautious approach is to use products with a low concentration
of DEET, 10% or less, on children aged 2 - 12. Most guidelines cite
that it is acceptable to use repellents containing DEET on children
over 2 years of age. Other experts suggest that it is acceptable
to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to infants over
2 months old.
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 safer for use on children.
Parents
should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used
by taking into account the amount of time that a child will be outdoors,
exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted disease
in the area. Persons who are concerned about using DEET or other
products on children may wish to consult their health care provider
for advice. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) can
also provide information through a toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378
or http://npic.orst.edu.
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 tend to 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.
- Using
repellents on the skin is not the only way to avoid mosquito bites.
Children and adults can wear clothing with long pants and long
sleeves while outdoors. DEET or other repellents such as permethrin
can also be applied to clothing (don’t use permethrin on
skin), as mosquitoes may bite through thin fabric. Mosquito netting
can be used over infant carriers. Finally, it may be possible
to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area by getting rid
of containers with standing water that provide breeding places
for the mosquitoes.
Q.
Is DEET safe for pregnant or nursing women?
A. There are no reported adverse events following use of repellents
containing DEET in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Q.
Are there any risks due to using repellents containing DEET?
A. Use of these products may cause skin reactions in rare cases.
If you suspect a reaction to this product, discontinue use, wash
the treated skin, and call your local poison control center. There
is a new national number to reach a Poison Control Center near you:
1-800-222-1222.
If
you go to a doctor, take the product with you. Cases of serious
reactions to products containing DEET have been related to misuse
of the product, such as swallowing, using over broken skin, and
using for multiple days without washing skin in between use, for
example. Always follow the instructions on the product label.
Repellents
and Schools
Q.
Should parents spray insect repellent on their children before they
go to school?
A. Whether children spend time outside during the school day should
determine the need for applying repellent. Because most schools
in the United States have air conditioning, children's exposure
to mosquitoes during the school day is not likely to be high. If
children will be spending time outdoors (for example, in recreational
activities, walking to and from school), parents may wish to apply
repellent. Mosquito repellent containing DEET is the most effective
in providing long-lasting protection from mosquito bites.
Q.
Should children be given repellent to use during the day?
A. The age and maturity of the child should be taken into account
before giving repellent to children for their own use. As with many
other chemicals, care should be taken that DEET is not misused or
swallowed. Parents should find out if a child will be outside during
the school day, and should discuss proper use of the product with
their children. Parents should also consult local officials to obtain
policies and procedures specific to bringing repellent to school.
Source:
CDC |
