Hellobee

In April earlier this year, I was hospitalized with severe dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness that has reached epidemic proportions here in the Philippines. It’s just recently that I feel like I’ve fully recovered. There are 5 different strains of dengue and once you have a particular strain you are immune from it, but not from the other strains. In fact, the second time you get dengue the symptoms are often far worse! There are of course ticks too (which are increasing around the whole world), and to a lesser degree we also have to worry about other mosquito transmitted diseases like malaria, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, and yellow fever. So I take my bug repellent seriously, especially when it comes to my kids!

It’s rainy season right now in the Philippines, which means it’s mosquito season. I’ve done a lot of research on bug repellents, and there are so many natural alternatives made with ingredients like citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, etc. But according to the CDC, there are only five types of repellents that are effective against preventing bug bites: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone, and oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE).

D E E T

DEET has been the gold standard when it comes to bug repellents, having been used for over 60 years. There has been worry over whether there are health risks associated with using DEET, however “DEET is considered safe by many public health organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization” for children 2 months and older, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. (via EWG)

DEET has an excellent safety record, despite some people’s concerns. N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide doesn’t sound like something you’d want to spray on your skin, and perhaps its acronym reminds people of the dangerous and now banned insecticide DDT. They’re nothing alike, however.

The Environmental Protection Agency must approve all pesticides used in the U.S., and although DEET isn’t a pesticide by definition — it does not kill insects — it falls under the EPA’s regulatory purview.

In 1998, the agency re-evaluated DEET, and found that it is very safe when used according to label directions, and it’s not classified as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). The label directions on DEET products will say you should apply it only once a day to exposed skin and outerwear — not under clothing. (via webmd)

Picaridin is a relatively new IR (insect repellent). Compared with DEET, its advantages include lack of chemical odor, non-greasy consistency, and non-damaging to clothing and plastics. Its vapor is noxious to mosquitoes, flies, chiggers, and ticks. Picaridin 20% spray has been shown to be comparable to DEET 20% for protection against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquito species.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration data indicate that picaridin at a concentration of 20% is effective against mosquitoes and ticks for 8-14 hours. The 10% concentration is effective for 3.5-8 hours. It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use in malaria-endemic areas. Some studies have shown a shorter protection time for picaridin compared to DEET. Picaridin is not known to produce the same nervous system toxicity as DEET but has not been subjected to as much long-term testing. Human and animal studies of picaridin have not demonstrated skin, internal organ, or reproductive toxicity. Picaridin is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age. (via posion.org)

I R 3 5 3 5

This is the active ingredient in the popular Avon Skin-so-Soft repellent that many parents love. I’ve read many repellent reviews, particularly from travelers to mosquito-heavy places, and when they’re looking for serious protection like we need in our parts, they typically reach for DEET or picaridin.

IR3535 belongs to drug maker Merck, and it has been used as a mosquito repellent in Europe for 20 years. Avon’s products are the only ones with IR3535 available in the U.S.

In the NEJM study, Bug Guard Plus protected against mosquito bites for only about 23 minutes, on average. (via webmd)

O I L  O F  L E M O N  E U C A L Y P T U S

Oil of lemon eucalyptus is not the same as essential oils (which the CDC does not recommend), and is a refined version of a naturally occurring compound that has been tested by the EPA as an insect repellent. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is impossible to find locally, but I have brought some from the US. The downside of OLE is that it is by far the strongest smelling repellent, and can irritate the skin and eyes and it’s not recommended for use on children under 3 years of age. But studies have shown it to be the only effective natural repellent.

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So what do I use on my kids?

Concentration is important, and you need to figure out what your needs are — this tool from the EPA can help. In general I prefer sprays to lotions, even though lotions provide better coverage, because my kids hate lotion, and spray can also be sprayed on clothes.

These are my picks:

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent – Repel does smell super strong, but we’re ok with it. I like having a natural option since we use repellent daily.

Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin – Honestly I don’t know which is “better” or safer – DEET or Picaridin. I just have a huge arsenal of repellents and have both on hand.

Ben’s 30% DEET Mosquito, Tick and Insect Repellent – If we’re going somewhere where there are a lot of mosquitoes, I am busting out the DEET. I don’t go higher than a 30% concentration, though there are up to 100% available.

Sawyer Products SP657 Premium Permethrin – You can spray this on clothing, tents, sleeping bags, etc. and it lasts up to 6 weeks or 6 washes!

Which mosquito repellents do you use for your kids?

*I am not a doctor or medical professional, but simply a mom sharing her personal experiences. Please seek the advice of a physician before making any serious medical decisions.