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Ouchy, Itchy!
Preventing, Recognizing and Treating Insect Bites and Stings
By Aneema Van Groenou, M.D.
Choosing a safe and effective insect repellant for your children is very important. Not only will you protect them from having an itchy spring and summer, but you'll protect them from all the associated risks of getting bitten. Of course, the best protection is simply covering up to prevent insects' access to skin in the first place!
Bugs are attracted to skin odors and to carbon dioxide in our breath. Insect repellents such as DEET confuse the bug's smell sensors so it can't land and bite successfully. This means repellents are only effective at short distances.
The best repellent for the kids depends on your level of comfort and the risks of insect exposure. For example, in an area with tick-transmitted Lyme disease, using a repellant that is effective against ticks is very important. For a short summer walk in your neighborhood park, a short-acting repellant may be sufficient. Keep in mind that insect repellents do not protect against most stinging insects, including wasps, bees and fire ants.
Synthetic repellants, such as those with DEET or dimethyl phthalate, are extremely effective and are the most widely used repellants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests it is acceptable to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to infants over 2 months old, though some experts recommend being more cautious with DEET repellents in children under 2 years old. If you have any doubts, consult your physician.
In children under age 2, apply DEET repellent only once a day. The AAP Committee on Environmental Health has updated its recommendation for use of DEET products on children, citing: "Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) with a concentration of 10 percent appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30 percent when used according to the directions on the product labels."
You can also put DEET repellant on your child's clothing, but it may damage some synthetic fabrics such as polyesters and leather. The higher the DEET concentration, the longer acting the protection. Ten percent DEET offers about two hours of protection. Twenty-four percent DEET offers about five hours of protection. The National Pesticide Information Center also can provide detailed DEET information through a toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378, or visit www.npic.orst.edu.
Natural repellants, including citronella and lemon eucalyptus, are considered safe for children older than 2 years but are not very effective against most insects. They offer some protection for one to two hours and are best used in areas where insects are somewhat irritating but where there is no risk of insect-borne disease.
Insecticides are the third category of repellants. Permethrin insecticides are safe to use around children because you apply them to their clothing or bedding, not directly on the skin. You can actually use permethrin on your tents, mosquito nets or sleeping bags without damaging the fabrics. It will continue to repel insects for weeks to months – even persisting through multiple washings. Permethrin is very effective against chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes, fleas and sand flies, and it helps prevent malaria when sprayed on netting. So permethrin is a good option in areas where insect-borne disease may be a risk.
This springtime, don't let the bugs keep you and your children indoors! Dress your kids defensively and protect them with insect repellent so they can explore the buzzing world without getting bitten.
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