Article by Vincent Rogers
The last souvenir you want to bring home from your holidays is a collection of insect bites.
Of course most bites and stings are just sore and uncomfortable. However, some people can experience a more severe reaction and end up needing medical help and, if you are travelling abroad, there is a risk of catching malaria, which can be fatal.
It is always wise therefore to protect yourself with insect repellent.
While the most popular product on the market is DEET, there are other alternatives which might be more suitable for young children or people with sensitive skin. If you are worried about the effect your insect repellent may have on the environment or local wildlife there are also a number of natural alternatives available.
DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in most insect repellents and is the most popular type of insect repellent available world-wide. You can find it in different concentrations which are suitable for different areas of the world.
DEET remains active for several hours and is very effective at preventing bites; however it can cause irritation to sensitive skin. It has also been known to damage clothing and plastics and some products have a strong chemical smell.
Picaridin has comparable repellent properties to DEET. It has the advantage that it doesn’t cause skin irritation, is less likely to dissolve plastics and fabrics, is almost odourless and is safer for younger children. It will need to be re-applied every six to eight hours depending on the concentration.
Natural insect repellents are based on essential oils – either citronella or lemon eucalyptus. They are safer on sensitive skin and harmless to most plastics and fabrics. They are safer for the environment and most can be used on young children. However they are more expensive than chemical products and may need to be applied more frequently.
Pyrethrins are natural compounds extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and have natural insecticidal and repellent properties. You can also find products containing Pyrethroids which are manufactured chemicals that have the same structure as Pyrethrins but are more powerful and longer lasting. These products are less toxic to pets and plants however can be harmful to fish and amphibians. They are generally harmless to clothing and plastics and less likely to irritate sensitive skin.
As well as using an insect repellent you should protect yourself from insects by:
Wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers while outsideusing mosquito netting over prams and pushchairsusing insect killer to clear a room or tent of insects before bedtimeavoiding standing water.
If you do get bitten, use bite relief to ease the discomfort and swelling. However, if you experience a severe reaction (for example excessive swelling and blistering) or if there is pus which indicates an infection, seek medical help. If you experience a severe and immediate reaction to a bite, such as wheezing or difficulty breathing, call an ambulance.
You should always read the label of insect repellents carefully to make sure they are suitable for you and your children. Some insect repellents are not suitable for young children and it is not recommended to use insect repellents on babies. Take precautions to reduce the risk of a reaction:
Use the right strength and amount of repellent.Do not apply insect sprays over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.Wash treated skin with soap and water when you go inside.Do not spray directly onto your face. Spray onto your hands first then rub on your face.Keep repellents out of reach of children and do not let them put it on themselves.