Mosquito Prevention

With the summer months alive and kicking, many people are spending more time outside in backyards and "the great outdoors." I wanted to step into my capacity as a public health advocate and provide a little information on how to avoid mosquito bites. (hey, pharmacist-in-training here. get used to it. :) )

I've recently seen a few good links discussing mosquito repellents and thought it would be best to just share each link, but people get kinda annoyed when you share them in quick succession on Facebook, so I decided to aggregate them into a blog post, and then share that.

This first one, from Forbes.com, looks at natural products that purport to repel mosquitos. Basically, citronella candles aren't that effective. The only "natural" alternatives that show efficacy are neem oil or soy oil mixed with lemon eucalyptus. But, they wear off quickly, thus necessitating more frequent applications. But basically, nothing beats the effectiveness of DEET.

Speaking of DEET, even the Environmental Working Group, (which I almost never use as a legitimate source due to their overwhelming bias against vaccines, GMO's et al) has admitted that DEET is safe and effective, when used appropriately:

Though DEET has been much maligned, and in rare cases, intense doses have been linked to nervous system impairment, an extensive review of the scientific literature found few reports of serious health hazards when the chemical was used sparingly, as the maker's instructions specify.

and also:

EWG advises consumers that when it comes to bug-borne diseases, prevention is key. Repellents should not be the first choice for protection from bug bites, but selecting the appropriate repellent can be important for people in high-risk places. Picking the best repellent for each situation can be complicated: More intense concentrations of repellent chemicals don’t necessarily do the job when it counts. Repellents don’t need to contain 100 percent DEET to deter pests. Consumers should avoid anything stronger than 30 percent DEET.

Now, I'd like to point out that the EWG says nothing over  30% is needed, however, the CDC recommends 50% as the limit and explains: "Higher concentrations of DEET may have a longer repellent effect, however, concentrations over 50% provide no added protection." (That link to the CDC is a great primer explaining what DEET is, what the percentage means etc.)

And finally, I'd like to end with a link that discusses Five Myths of Mosquito Repellents. Among them, he points out how natural alternatives may provide some protection, but will need to be applied 3-4 times as often. He also explains the proper way to apply mosquito repellent to get the best protection.

All links are worth the time to read. Have fun out there and be safe.