With mosquitoes and ticks coming fast now is the time to protect yourself. Luckily most of those pesky insects are just a nuisance. Only a very rare tick or mosquito is actually carrying any threatening infection for humans. If you develop a severe headache or rash or fever after a bug bite call our office. To prevent those bites in the first place here are some helpful hints:

• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
• Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
• To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail.

DEET Bug Sprays

• Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective against ticks, which can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes, which can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses.
• DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age.
• The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase.
• DEET should not be applied more than once a day.
• Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not use under clothing.
• Do not use DEET on the hands of young children; avoid applying to areas around the eyes and mouth.
• Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds or irritated skin. Wash treated skin with soap and water; after returning indooors wash treated clothing.
• Avoid spraying in enclosed areas; do not use DEET near food.
• Don't use combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied. DEET is not water-soluble and will last up to 8 hours. Repeated application may increase the potential toxic effects of DEET.

Which Concentration to Use?

• The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children.
• The major difference in the efficacy of products relates to their duration of action. Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours.
• As the concentration of DEET increases, the duration of activity increases; for example, a concentration of about 24% has been shown to provide an average of 5 hours of protection.
• The safety of DEET does not appear to relate to differences in these concentrations. A prudent approach would be to select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors.
• The AAP has some information of the comparison of different bug sprays and their effectiveness.