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White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA

Warm Weather Means Protecting Children from Bugs While Playing Outdoors

DEET is still considered the most effective insect repellent ingredient to fight those summertime pests that plague children playing outdoors. But using this powerful chemical requires special precautions that are outlined in this article. Read on.

Summer is just around the corner and children will be outside on a more frequent basis. If you have mosquitoes and/or ticks in your area, children will need protection. West Nile virus carried by mosquitoes and Lyme disease carried by ticks can be very serious illnesses for both adults and children.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most effective insect repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). New research has demonstrated that DEET with a concentration of 10% appears to be as effective as products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on the product labels. DEET is not recommended for use on children under 2 months old.

The safety of DEET does not appear to relate to differences in these concentrations. A prudent approach would be to select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. It is generally agreed that DEET should not be applied more than once a day.

There are no specific data on the skin absorption of DEET as a function of age. However, data on skin absorption of similar substances suggest that absorption through the skin would not differ after an infant has reached a month or two of age.

Other precautions when applying DEET:

• Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not use under clothing.
• Do not use DEET on the hands of young children; avoid applying to areas around the eyes and mouth.
• Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds or irritated skin. Wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors; wash treated clothing.
• Avoid spraying in enclosed areas; do not use DEET near food.

While the medical community has assured everyone that DEET is both safe and effective, those who are more chemically sensitive might well be advised stick to the more natural repellents. I use natural products for bug repellent as my skin is too sensitive for harsh chemicals. Natural bug repellents such as Bite Blocker and Badger Anti-Bug Balm are a blend of plant oils, plant extracts and plant derivatives.

There are also two natural products you can buy to treat the ground and outside area. One product is Avon Skin So Soft Insect Repellent Aerosol, which repels mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, ants and biting midges (hope you know what this is, because I have never heard of it!) The other product is Mosquito Barrier. Mosquito Barrier® is a completely non-toxic, pesticide free, natural mosquito control repellent that kills on contact and repels mosquitoes, ticks and fleas for weeks using a garlic base.

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