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Insect Repellent
There are several different insect repellents one can use to protect against mosquitoes and others insects which may carry dangerous diseases. This page will look at two specific repellents recognized as the most effective.
DEET:
DEET is the common
name for N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, which is the active ingredient in the
most widely used insect repellents. Products with DEET as their base are
marketed in a variety of ways to help protect against biting insects and
the diseases they may carry. All DEET-based products are evaluated and
registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency before they are marketed.
DEET interrupts the ability of biting insects to detect the source of carbon dioxide, which is naturally given off by our skin and in our breath. This is what attracts mosquitoes to us. Therefore, the insects are unable to locate their prey for a period of several hours.
DEET is used by approximately 30% of Americans annually. Each person averages approximately 7 to 8 applications each which add up to more than 400 million applications annually.
This product is extensively researched and tested. In one such controlled
independent test, which used mosquitoes and humans as subjects, insect
repellents containing DEET provided complete protection from bites for
longer periods of time than other widely used repellent products. According
to the study, “only products containing DEET are dependable for
long-lasting protection after a single application.” The research
included four products containing DEET and 12 other repellent products.
Among the many who use this product are the World Health Organization, the U.S. Army, and the Centers for Disease Control.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions to the product are skin rashes, which happen very rarely. Such rashes disappear very quickly when the product is washed from the skin.
It is important to read the instructions before application and to re-apply when mosquitoes begin to be troublesome again. Do not, however, apply this to clothing or bedding as there are other products specifically meant for that. For more information on DEET and DEET-based products, go to www.deetonline.org
