Myths And Facts About DEET

�West Nile virus is present in almost every corner of our country and this is the peak season. A new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on U.S. West Nile virus cases in 2007 constitute that most (89%) of the 3,630 cases were reported during July, August and September. All but sestet states reported cases of WNV infections in humanity last year. The CDC says the mosquito-borne disease is underreported and under-diagnosed and estimates that or so 175,000 Americans whitethorn have been infected with West Nile last year. There ar at least 44 confirmed cases of WNV across 15 states so far this year.


The CDC and state and local public health agencies nationwide recommend the use of goods and services of EPA-registered insect repellents to avail protect against West Nile virus. The most popular of these recommended repellents is DEET, which is used by at least one-third of Americans every year. Despite its popularity, or perchance because if it, many myths hang on about DEET.


Myth: No more than 10% DEET should be used on children. Fact: Federal regulators suppose that all concentrations can be used by people of all ages when label directions are followed. The American Academy of Pediatrics says products containing up to and including 30 pct DEET can be secondhand on children two months of eld and older. The AAP also says that products containing DEET are among the nearly effective repellents available and should be used when necessary to protect against bites from insects and ticks that may carry disease.


Myth: Some popular skin creams and "natural" repellent products are safer than DEET. Fact: "DEET has been shown to be an extremely safe and effective repellent," said Lyle R. Petersen, M.D., music director of the CDC's division of vector-borne infectious diseases. University of Florida scientists Jonathan Day and Roxanne Rutledge wrote: "Natural is a scripture that is sometimes used to promote 'safe' products. Unfortunately, the wording can be deceptive for the uninformed private. 'Natural' products are commonly essential oils distilled from plants� These oils commode be toxic and painful in high gear concentrations. 'Natural' repellents ar not necessarily safe repellents." DEET is one of the most widely tested consumer products of whatever type and has been used faithfully by consumers for more than 50 years. According to a New England Journal of Medicine article (Fradin & Day, 2002), DEET "has a noteworthy safety profile."


Myth: Garlic, bananas and vitamin-B ward turned mosquitoes. Fact: "There is no scientific evidence that eating ail, vitamins, onions, or whatever other food will make a person repellent to mosquitoes," aforementioned Day and Rutledge of the University of Florida. "It is also unlikely that B-1 skin patches will work either," Day says. DEET is regarded as the "gold measure" against which other repellents are tested.


Myth: New devices are efficient against mosquitoes. Fact: "There is no evidence that wearing devices that emit sound testament repel mosquitoes," say Day and Rutledge. "Bug zappers do non control mosquitoes and can reduce the populations of beneficial insects," says Ken Gioeli, University of Florida natural resource agent. Some experts suggest that zappers actually attract mosquitoes to your property.


Myth: Dryer sheets and other home remedies repel bugs. Fact: "The truth is although many home remedies and flake uses of everyday products do serve to revolt mosquitoes middling, they don't work very effectively for very long," writes Barbara Mikkelson on the popular Web site, www.snopes.com.


Myth: DEET is noisome and oleaginous. Fact: Fifty years of product development has yielded DEET-based products that ar pleasant to use they have a pleasant "feel" on the skin and fresh fragrances. Some fifty-fifty go on as a dry formulation similar to spray deodorant that is powder-like.


Myth: Higher concentrations mean better tribute. Fact: Higher concentrations of DEET mean longer protective cover, not better. A 5% product will provide more or less 90 minutes of protective cover and a 100 % product protects for around 10 hours. Protection clock time increases as the denseness increases. So, the yearner you ar outside, the higher the concentration you should utilization. However, protecting against ticks requires at least 20% DEET, and no early repellent whole kit and boodle as well against ticks.


Most folks world Health Organization are departure outside for a backyard barbecue should choose a product that protects them for up to two hours, a repellent in the 10% range. It's often all right to manipulation a concentration below 30% for to the highest degree outdoor activities. When you are open for prospicient periods to hoards of mosquitoes, though, a 100% product is advisable.


Myth: I don't need repellent unless I'm headed out into a wooded or waterfront location. Fact: Mosquitoes can be anyplace, even in a city, and many carry disease. Most hoi polloi who have contracted WNV were bitten by mosquitoes lurking in their own yards. Cases of malaria have occurred in recent years in Washington, D.C. And early mosquito-borne diseases sometimes come elsewhere in the United States.


Myth: DEET is an insecticide. Fact: DEET does not vote out mosquitoes, as insecticides do. It repels them by confusing their ability to locate humans.


Myth: DEET causes seizures in children. Fact: Scientific reviews do not show a causal relationship between DEET and seizures (Murphy, et al, 1997; Bell, et al, 2002). This myth stems from a handful of isolated reports in both adults and children that cannot be definitively linked to DEET. Experts report that two percent of typical children have one or more seizures from strange causes by age 10. A multi-year review of adverse events yielded a handful of neurological cases (given millions of product uses per year) that could not be even to use of goods and services of DEET-based repellents. These neurological contrary events were not more common in children than in other age groups and were not tied to concentration of DEET in the products.


Myth: Some popular pelt creams and "natural" repellents work as well as DEET. Fact: Scientifically controlled studies evince very few repellents ar effective as DEET (Fradin & Day, 2002). The CDC urges consumers to pick only repellents with EPA registrations to promise appropriate efficacy. The most effective, according to the CDC, are DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (recommended with limitations) and IR3535 (hypertext transfer protocol://www.center for Disease Control and Prevention.gov).


Kroeger Associates

11415

Chapel Hill, NC 27517

United States
http://www.kroegerpr.com



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