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Disease PreventionDisease SymptomsDEET Insect RepellentAbout.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Susan Olender, MD
What DEET Is: DEET is the active insect repelling ingredient in most insect repellents. The scientific name for DEET is N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide. Determining How Much DEET You Need: Read the label to see how much DEET a repellent contains. Do not use more than 30 percent DEET on children, and if possible, keep it below 10-20 percent. The CDC recommends using 50 percent DEET for adults, but warns that percentages higher than 50 percent have not been shown to be more effective. Lower percentages of DEET require more frequent applications. Applying DEET: DO
DO NOT
How Long DEET Lasts: After a few hours, DEET usually has to be reapplied. The CDC states that higher percentages of DEET last longer than lower percentages. Five percent DEET lasts an hour and a half, while 20 percent DEET lasts around four hours. Reapply DEET if you sweat a lot, or if your skin gets wet. If mosquitoes start biting, it's time for more spray. Long lasting formulas that release DEET slowly are recommended. DEET and Kids: Check the package labeling for specific information where the percentage of DEET should be clearly shown. The American Association of Pediatricians, AAP, has issued specific warnings about DEET, stating that products containing 10 percent DEET seemed as safe as ones containing 30 percent when used according to the directions on the product, but that in no case DEET should be used on babies less than two months old. Use common sense and try to avoid insects rather than depend on chemicals to spray on your children. But if your choice is between repellent and a disease, please choose the repellent. DEET and Pregnant women: The recommendations for DEET are the same as for any adult. Use common sense and try to avoid areas where mosquito repellent would have to be used over long periods of time. At the same time, if the risk of contracting a deadly disease is high, do not be afraid to use DEET to protect yourself. DEET Warnings: Only use repellents and insecticides that have EPA approval that should be visible on the label. DEET is toxic if ingested and can cause skin blistering. Wash DEET off with mild soap and water and contact your doctor. Call 911 in case of an emergency. For more information, you can call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. You can find Human Poison Control Centers in your state at 1-800-222-1222. Additional Protection against Insects: Do not rely only on mosquito repellent to protect you -- wear light-colored protective clothing and avoid times when insects are biting. Some mosquitoes, for example, are more active during the day, others at night. At night, sleep under a long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito net. Staying in an air-conditioned building also reduces the risk of getting bitten by a mosquito. Sources:
Updated: July 13, 2007 Disease PreventionDisease Symptoms |
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