Insect Repellents

Tick populations are predicted to swell in 1999 through 2000, increasing risk for Lyme disease. Ninety percent of all reported cases of the disease occur in the Northeastern U.S., Minnesota and Wisconsin. A new vaccine is only 78% effective, and cannot be given to children. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as encephalitis, are also on the rise.

Insect repellents containing DEET, or N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, such as Cutter and Off!, can be dangerous if overused, particularly for children. DEET can cause skin irritations, headaches, nausea, and neurotoxic problems. Repeated applications produce a cumulative effect, and overexposure can even be fatal. In July 1998, the University of Texas Medical School reported that 13 children under age eight developed encephalopathy, with seizures, after having been overexposed to DEET, most through repeated applications of products containing 10-20% DEET. Three died.

Safer alternatives include Lakon's Bygone Bugz, which contains herbs. Soybean oil, used in Bite Blocker, has shown some effectiveness in keeping mosquitoes off, Jane Brody reports in The New York Times. Oil of citronella, the active ingredient in Avon's Skin So Soft, has also shown some insect repellency, though all of the above do less so than DEET. Citronella has not been proven safe, so use it in the smallest amount possible. Children and pregnant women should not use repellents containing pennyroyal.

Outdoors, wear protective clothing --hats, long-sleeved shirts, pants tucked into socks -- in light colors, so that ticks will be visible. Avoid long grass or underbrush. After your trek, conduct a thorough inspection for ticks. Be extra vigilant in June and July, when young ticks are at their tiniest -- smaller than the head of a pin. If a tick has attached, cover it with oil for 10 to 20 minutes to suffocate it and release its grip before removing with a pair of tweezers. Seal the tick in a bottle for your doctor to examine.

If you use products containing DEET, choose a brand that has only 10% or less, such as Skedaddle Insect Protection for Children and Johnson's Off! Skintastic Insect Repellent, and never apply to any child under two years of age. The insecticide permethrin, found in the tick repellents Permanone and Duranon, is more effective than DEET in the opinion of some doctors, but hasn't been tested for safety when applied to skin. Permethrin repellents should instead be applied sparingly to clothing, shoes, tents and sleeping bags.

Resources:

See our product report on Insect Repellents for product recommendations and contact information.

-- Reprinted with permission from Mothers & Others Guide to Natural Baby Care, by Mindy Pennybacker and Aisha Ikramuddin (John Wiley & Sons, 1999, $16.95). Available in bookstores nationwide.