DEET Insect Repellents - IDPH

Insect repellents containing DEET have been used for more than 40 years by millions of ... The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) can also provide ... DEETInsectRepellents WhatareDEETinsectrepellents? DEET(N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)isaversatileandeffectiveinsect repellent.InsectrepellentscontainingDEEThavebeenusedformorethan40 yearsbymillionsofpeopleworldwidetorepelmosquitoes,ticks,fleas,biting fliesandchiggers.Theseproductsareavailableinmanyformulations, includinglotions,creams,gels,aerosolandpumpsprays,andtowelettes. Insectrepellentscanreducetheriskofmosquitoandtickbites,butproducts containingDEETmustbeusedproperly. HowdoDEETandotherrepellentswork? Mosquitoesandotherblood-feedingflies(suchasblackfliesanddeer flies)areattractedtohostsbyskinodorsandcarbondioxidefromtheir breath.Whenamosquitogetsclosetoahost,DEETandsomeotherrepellents jamtheinsect'ssensorsandconfusetheinsectsoitisunabletolandand bitethehostsuccessfully.Repellentsareeffectiveonlyatshortdistances fromthetreatedsurface,sotheusermaystillseemosquitoesflyingnearby. Aslongastheuserisnotgettingbitten,thereisnoreasontoapplymore DEET. Whatproblemscanbecausedbymosquitobites? Ordinarily,thebitesofmosquitoesandotherinsectsarejustanuisance, althoughthebitemaycauseitchingorswelling.Thesymptomsofaninsectbite canusuallybetreatedwithover-the-countermedications.However,inrare situations,aninsectbitecantransmitcertaindiseasessuchasWestNile virus,St.LouisencephalitisandCalifornia(LaCrosse)encephalitis. CanIuseaninsectrepellentcontainingDEETandsunscreenatthesame time? Yes.PeoplecanandshouldusebothsunscreenandDEETwhentheyare outdoorstoprotecttheirhealth.Followtheinstructionsonthepackagefor properapplicationofeachproduct.Applysunscreenfirst,followedby repellantcontainingDEET.Toprotectfromsunexposureandinsectbites,you canalsowearlongsleevesandlongpants.Youcanalsoapplyinsectrepellent containingDEETorpermethrintoyourclothing,ratherthandirectlytoyour skin. HasCDCchangeditsrecommendationsforuseofDEETandsunscreen? No.Basedonavailableresearch,CDCbelievesitissafetouseboth productsatthesametime.Followtheinstructionsonthepackageforproper applicationofeachproduct.Applysunscreenfirst,theninsectrepellent containingDEET,tobesurethateachproductworksasspecified. ShouldIuseacombinationsunscreen/DEET-basedinsectrepellent? BecausetheinstructionsforsafeuseofDEETandsafeuseofsunscreenare different,CDCdoesnotrecommendusingproductsthatcombineDEETwith sunscreen.Inmostsituations,DEETdoesnotneedtobereappliedasfrequently assunscreen.DEETisverysafewhenappliedcorrectly.Therareadverse reactionstoDEEThavegenerallyoccurredinsituationswherepeopledonot followtheproductinstructions.Sunscreenoftenrequiresfrequent reapplication,sousingacombinedproductisnotrecommended.Youdonotneed toreapplyinsectrepellenteverytimeyoureapplysunscreen.Followthe instructionsonthepackageforeachproducttogetthebestresults. Iheardaboutastudysayingthattheremaybesometypeofinteraction betweenrepellentscontainingDEETandsunscreen.Isthistrue? TherehasbeenattentiontoastudyconcerningthechemicalsinDEETand sunscreenpresentedatascientificmeeting.Thisisaninvitrostudy,which meansthatitisalaboratorystudythatdidnotincludehumanoranimal testing.Thegoalofthestudywastoexamineabsorptionofthesechemicals, anditdidnotevaluateormakeconclusionsabouthealtheffectsrelatedto thisissue.Thestudyauthorsstatedthatfurtherevaluationoftheinteraction ofthesechemicalsshouldbeconducted.Thestudyhasnotyetbeenpublished (asofJuly2003). EvaluationbytheEPA,whichregulatesproductssuchasDEET,indicatesthat itissafetouseinsectrepellentscontainingDEETandsunscreenatthesame time.CDCrecommendsusingtwoseparateproductsbecausesunscreenrequires frequentapplicationswhileDEETshouldbeusedsparingly.Followthe directionsonthepackageforeachproduct,andconsultyourphysicianor pharmacistifyouhavequestions.CDC'srecommendationsforthesafeuseof insectrepellentsonchildrenandadultsremainunchanged. HowshouldDEETrepellentsbeusedtopreventinsectbites? Readandfollowtheinstructionsonthelabelandavoidexcessiveuseand over-application. ThemoreDEETaproductcontains,thelongertherepellantcanprotect againstmosquitobites.However,concentrationshigherthan50percentdonot increasethelengthofprotection.Formostsituations,10percentto25 percentDEETisadequate. Tomakesureyouwillnotreacttotherepellent,applytheproducttoa smallareaofskinonyourarmorlegbeforegeneraluse. Usejustenoughrepellenttocoverexposedskinand/orclothing. Afterreturningindoors,washtreatedskinwithsoapandwater.Wash treatedclothingbeforewearingagain. Donotspraydirectlyonface;spraytherepellentontohandsandthen applytoface.Avoidsensitiveareasliketheeyes,mouthandnasalmembranes. Donotapplyovercuts,woundsorirritatedskin. Donotuseunderclothing. Avoidsprayingonplastics(suchaswatchcrystalsandeyeglassesframes), rayon,spandex,othersyntheticfabrics,leatherandpaintedorvarnished surfacesbecauseDEETcandamagethosesurfaces. DonotsprayDEET-containingproductsinenclosedareas. DEETproductswillusuallyrepelmosquitoesforseveralhours,soitis notnecessarytoreapplytherepellentmorefrequentlythanthat. DEETproductswillNOTrepelstinginginsectssuchaswaspsandbees. WhataboutusingDEETrepellentsonchildren? Nodefinitivestudiesexistinthescientificliteratureaboutwhat concentrationofDEETissafeforchildren.Noseriousillnesshasbeenlinked totheuseofDEETinchildrenwhenusedaccordingtheproductrecommendations. TheAmericanAcademyofPediatrics(AAP)CommitteeonEnvironmentalHealthhas recentlyupdatedtheirrecommendationforuseofDEETproductsonchildren, citing:"InsectrepellentscontainingDEET(N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide,also knownasN,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)withaconcentrationof10%appearto beassafeasproductswithaconcentrationof30%whenusedaccordingtothe directionsontheproductlabels." TheAAPandotherexpertssuggestthatitisacceptabletoapplyrepellent withlowconcentrationsofDEETtoinfantsover2monthsold.Otherguidelines citethatitisacceptabletouserepellentscontainingDEETonchildrenover2 yearsofage.RepellentproductsthatdonotcontainDEETarenotlikelyto offerthesamedegreeofprotectionfrommosquitobitesasproductscontaining DEET.Non-DEETrepellentshavenotnecessarilybeenasthoroughlystudiedas DEET,andmaynotbesaferforuseonchildren. Parentsshouldchoosethetypeandconcentrationofrepellenttobeusedby takingintoaccounttheamountoftimethatachildwillbeoutdoors,exposure tomosquitoes,andtheriskofmosquito-transmitteddiseaseinthearea. PersonswhoareconcernedaboutusingDEETorotherproductsonchildrenmay wishtoconsulttheirhealthcareproviderforadvice.TheNationalPesticide InformationCenter(NPIC)canalsoprovideinformationthroughatoll-free number,1-800-858-7378ornpic.orst.edu. Alwaysfollowtherecommendationsappearingontheproductlabelwhenusing repellent. Whenusingrepellentonachild,applyittoyourownhandsandthenrub themonyourchild.Avoidchildren'seyesandmouthanduseitsparinglyaround theirears. Donotapplyrepellenttochildren'shands.(Childrenmaytendtoputtheir handsintheirmouths.) Donotallowyoungchildrentoapplyinsectrepellenttothemselves;have anadultdoitforthem.Keeprepellentsoutofreachofchildren. Donotapplyrepellenttoskinunderclothing.Ifrepellentisappliedto clothing,washtreatedclothingbeforewearingagain. Usingrepellentsontheskinisnottheonlywaytoavoidmosquitobites. Childrenandadultscanwearclothingwithlongpantsandlongsleeveswhile outdoors.DEETorotherrepellentssuchaspermethrincanalsobeappliedto clothing(don’tusepermethrinonskin),asmosquitoesmaybitethrough thinfabric.Mosquitonettingcanbeusedoverinfantcarriers.Finally,itmay bepossibletoreducethenumberofmosquitoesintheareabygettingridof containerswithstandingwaterthatprovidebreedingplacesforthemosquitoes. WillusingrepellentscontainingDEETaffectmyhealth? BeforeDEETandotherrepellentsmaybelegallydistributed,soldorusedin thiscountry,theymustbeevaluatedandregisteredbytheU.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency(USEPA).Whenusedaccordingtolabeldirections,millionsof peoplehaveusedDEETrepellentstoprovideprotectionagainstmosquitoesand tickswithminimalrisk.Nevertheless,norepellentis100percentsafeandall repellentsmustbeusedcarefully.UseofDEETconcentrationsabove50percent havebeenassociatedwithincreasedskinirritationandsimilarreactions.In veryrarecircumstances,slurredspeech,confusionandseizureshavebeen associatedwiththeuseofDEET,particularlyinchildren.However,someof thesepersonshadahistoryoflong-term,excessiveorimproperuseofDEET repellents.Theriskofexperiencinganyadversehealtheffectsisreducedwhen productscontainingDEETareusedaccordingtolabelinstructionsand concentratedDEETproductsareavoided.AfactsheetbyUSEPAaboutinsect repellentsmaybefoundat www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/insectrp.htm. Additionally,anarticlereviewingDEETandotherrepellents,"Mosquitoes andMosquitoRepellents:AClinician'sGuide,"maybefoundat www.acponline.org/journals/annals/01jun98/mosquito.htm. WhatshouldIdoifIhavemedicalquestionsaboutDEET? Ifyoususpectthatyouoryourchildisreactingtoaninsectrepellent, discontinueuse,washthetreatedskinandcallyourphysicianorlocalpoison controlcenter.Ifyougotoadoctororhospital,taketherepellentwithyou. TheIllinoisPoisonCenteremergencytelephonenumberis1-800-222-1222; 312-906-6185(TTY/TDD). Additionalinformationabouttheactiveingredientsinrepellentsand otherpesticidesmaybeobtainedfromtheNationalPesticideInformationCenter (NPIC)at1-800-858-7378from8:30a.m.to6:30p.m.(Centraltime)sevendays aweek,excludingholidays,orvisitNPIC'sWebsiteat http://npic.orst.edu. CanIusearepellentthatdoesnotcontainDEET? IfyoudonotwanttouseaproductcontainingDEET,orifyourphysician advisesyoutoavoidDEET,thereareotherproductsthatcangiveyoulimited protection.Theserepellentsgenerallyuseplant-basedoilstorepelinsects. IncomparisontoDEET-basedproducts,plantoil-basedrepellentsaregenerally effectiveforashortertime(usuallylessthanabouttwohours).Note:Vitamin B,ultrasonicdevicesandincensehavenotbeenshowntobeeffectivein preventingmosquitobites. Whatabouttreatingclotheswithrepellentscontainingpermethrin? Somepeopleusepermethrinrepellentsonclothingtorepelticks,mitesand mosquitoes.PermethrinrepellentsshouldNEVERbeappliedtoskin;theyareto beusedonclothingONLY.Alwaysusepermethrinrepellentsaccordingtothe labelinstructions. Whenpermethrinproductsareappliedtoclothing,thesprayshouldbe allowedtodrybeforetheclothingisworn. Permethrinworksmainlybykillingticksthatcomeincontactwithtreated clothes. Becausetreatingclothingwithpermethrinisparticularlyeffective againstticks,theyreducetheriskofgettingLymedisease,RockyMountain spottedfeverandotherdiseasesbypreventingtickbites. Permethrinisapesticideandexposureshouldbeminimized.Therefore,it shouldonlybeusedwhenticksormosquitoesarenumerousandotherprotective measuresarenotpracticaloravailable. Arethereotherwaystohelppreventinsectbites? Theuseofaninsectrepellentisnottheonlywaytoreducetheriskof bitesfrommosquitoes,ticksandotherbitinginsectsthatmaytransmit disease.Otherprecautionsareimportantaswell: Avoidplacesandtimeswhenmosquitoesbite.Generally,thepeakbiting periodsoccurjustbeforeandaftersunsetandagainjustbeforedawn.However somemosquitoesbiteduringdaylighthoursinornearshadedorwoodedareas. Besuredoorandwindowscreensaretight-fittingandingoodrepair. Wearappropriateclothing.Long-sleevedtopsandlongpantsmadeoftightly wovenmaterialskeepmosquitoesawayfromtheskin.Besure,too,thatyour clothingislightcolored.Keeptrouserlegstuckedintobootsorsocks. Usemosquitonettingwhensleepingoutdoorsorinanunscreenedstructure andtoprotectsmallbabiesatalltimes. Installingbirdorbathousestoattracttheseinsect-eatinganimalshas beensuggestedasamethodofmosquitocontrol.However,thereislittle scientificevidencethatthissignificantlyreducesthemosquitopopulation aroundhomes. Sprayingyourbackyardwithaninsecticidalfogormistiseffectiveonly forashorttime.Mosquitoeswillreturnwhentheeffectofthesprayhas ended. Insectlightelectrocutors("bugzappers")orsounddevicesdo littletoreducebitingmosquitoesinanarea. IsDEETsafeforpregnantornursingwomen? Therearenoreportedadverseeventsfollowinguseofrepellentscontaining DEETinpregnantorbreastfeedingwomen. WherecanIgetmoreinformationaboutWestNilevirus? CallyourlocalhealthdepartmentortheIllinoisDepartmentofPublic Healthat217-782-5830.OrvisittheDepartment'sWebsiteandtheU.S.Centers forDiseaseControlandPrevention'sWestNilevirussiteformoreinformation: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm IllinoisDepartment ofPublicHealth 535WestJeffersonStreet Springfield,Illinois62761 Phone217-782-4977 Fax217-782-3987 TTY800-547-0466 QuestionsorComments