To DEET or not to DEET, that is the question

[BWVDenise]

You know, I was thinking. My parents never had to worry about mosquitos, ticks, sun protection, etc. Things are getting too complicated!
Now, to my question... How safe is DEET to use on children? I've never used it but am wondering if I should. The mosquitos have an absolute FEAST on my ds's head every summer. He must have very sweet blood! I don't know if there are health risks associated with using that product, though. I did hear a news report where they tested all the mosquito-repellant products and basically they said that the only one that does work is the kind with DEET in it.

 

[pumba]

we were brought up with deet......they would spray our city trees and bushes each year ....had to move the vehicles off the streets so that this stuff would not peel the paint off the cars.....but yah....we lived to tell about it.....actually I put the stuff with deet on the kids hats and outer clothes and around the ankles.....and avon product for the skin.....works for us.......

 

[Pete's Mom]

The one time I used DEET it started to eat the finish off my acrylic nails!

 

[mhopset]

 

[dandave]

The last time my DH and I attempted to go camping years ago, he used Deet. It was strong, Air Force issued stuff. He rubbed it all over his head, neck, arms, etc.
Well his whole face started swelling up! By the time we reached the emergency room, his head and face were so swollen he was unrecognizable. He could barely breathe. He had a severe allergic reaction.
After that awful experience, we never use insect sprays on ourselves anymore.

 

[BWVDenise]

OK-- you've convinced me not to buy it!!!!
(now if I could figure out how to keep from getting West Nile Virus!)

 

[dandave]

Unless the mosquitos are very, very bad, I don't really notice them. I guess it comes from being raised in the South. My mother swears mosquitos don't bother her, because she gets plenty of B1.

Vitamin B¹ - Thiamine

Known as the "morale vitamin" because of its beneficial effects on the nervous system and mental attitude. Promotes proper growth in children, aids carbohydrate utilization for energy, and sup- ports the nervous system. Enhances immune response. Helps control motion sickness. <b>Wards off mosquitos and stinging insects.</b> Pregnancy, lactation, diuretics and oral contraceptives require extra thiamine. Smoking, heavy metal pollutants, excess sugar, junk foods, stress and alcohol all deplete thiamine. Deficiency results in insomnia, fatigue, confusion, poor memory, and muscle coordination. Naturally-occurring thiamine is a rather delicate compound and is readily inactivated by cooking and/or chlorine. One way to prevent thiamine loss while cooking is to add acidic substances, such as lemon juice or vinegar to the cooking medium. Good food sources include asparagus, brewer's yeast, brown rice and whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, organ meats and soy foods.


http://www.wcmmc.com/Fitness/Vitamins.asp

 

[Betsyt82]

We use the family Off with 6.?% deet in it and have for years........It works great and keeps the bugs away. Growing up everyone used the old Off full of deet and lived to tell you they are fine.....It is a small amount of the populus that have allergies to Deet.

 

[Kermit]

Children are supposed to use a maximum of 10% DEET. There are children who will go into convulsions if they're exposed to too much. I'm sure that allergic reactions are possible in some children regardless of how much they use.

I try to avoid using chemicals on myself whenever possible, but I struggle with this one. I have an autoimmune disorder and am therefore at an increased risk for West Nile Virus. I do usually use the smallest amount of a product with DEET possible to ward off the mosquitoes. I don't know what I'll do with Jacob this year. Since he's so young, I'll probably just keep him indoors when the bugs are bad. I have to take care of myself, too, because West Nile can apparently be passed through breastmilk. DEET probably isn't good for nursing moms, either.

There are ways to use DEET effectively without going overboard. When possible, spray it on your clothes instead of your skin. Don't put it on children's hands. Put it on your own hands and spread it on their faces. And always take off your clothes and take a shower when you go inside.