10 Tips For Avoiding Insect Bites in the Tropics

April 23, 2008

Posted in Insects No Comments »
Tags: DEET, Dengue fever, Insect bites, Malaria, Permethrin, Pyrethroid, Tropics

Protecting children from insect bites can be challenging, especially when you travel to places where bites are potentially troublesome and children hassle you about wearing protective clothing and using repellents.

Here is what you should know.

1. Are there disease-carrying insects at your destination?

For travel to the tropics check the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, read travel health guides, or visit a travel medicine clinic. Areas with such insects are fairly well delineated. The information will tell you the extent of the precautions you must exercise.

The three most troublesome insect-transmitted diseases for travelers are malaria, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Medication is available to prevent malaria and immunizations prevent yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Another troublesome disease is dengue fever, a flu-like illness which is virtually never life threatening for travelers. Insect precautions prevent the majority of cases.

2. Don’t rely on hearsay.

Families who have “been there, done that” for example, are not necessarily knowledgeable in preventing insect-related diseases. Sometimes plain luck prevents illness. Also, don’t rely on information obtained from government tourist offices of the country you are visiting. They often do not have the latest information.

3. Get the latest information.

Insect distribution can change rapidly, due to changes in weather conditions, for example. Conditions regarding health issues obtained months before your departure may be outdated by the time you leave. Conditions on a previous visit may no longer be current. Recheck the situation shortly before you leave.

4. Outwit insects.

They may be especially numerous during local rainy seasons, prefer certain weather conditions and altitudes, choose rural areas over cities and beaches, and do their biting at fairly predictable times of day.

5. Choose insect-unfriendly accommodations.

In the tropics, better hotels spray outdoor grounds, public areas and guest rooms and keep outdoor areas free of standing water and clogged roof gutters, preferred breeding grounds. Most insects fly only short distances from where they breed.

Air conditioning provides cool atmospheres (most insects like it warm) and allows you to keep windows closed. In the absence of air conditioning, fans are somewhat helpful; insects prefer still air. Check that window screens are well in place, intact and fit flush into window frames.

6. If there’s no air conditioning, use bed nets.

Read net labels and choose netting with about 156 holes per square inch (mesh count) – except in parts of the tropics where sand flies exist. These are smaller than other biting insects and require mesh counts of 196. (Higher mesh counts means smaller holes). However, smaller holes reduce air circulation, making it less comfortable to sleep. Hole size is less important if nets are soaked in permethrin (see below).

7. Choose large bed nets.

Insects can bite through intact nets. Large nets allow persons inside to move about without their bodies touching the nets. Wearing clothes also helps keeping insects at bay. Keep nets tucked under the mattress, even when the bed is unused, to keep insects out.

8. Treat bed nets with permethrin.

Soaking or spraying nets with permethrin greatly increases effectiveness. Permethrin is safe for all age groups. When nets are properly treated and not washed, protection lasts for several months. Permethrin-treated bed nets are available from travelers and camping supply stores and their catalogs.

9. Also apply permethrin-containing products to clothing, screens, tents, and sleeping bags.

Permethrin is highly effective. DEET on skin and permethrin on clothing greatly decrease the chances of being bitten. Properly treated clothing provides protection for up to two weeks and through several machine washings. Permethrin pre-treated clothing is available.

10. Use pyrethroid-containing sprays for flying insects in sleeping quarters.

Pyrethroid is similar to permethrin. Spray rooms before bedtime. There are no known serious side effects. Such products are generally available in large drug stores and from travelers and camping supply stores and their catalogs. See TenTips: repellents.

Posted in Insects No Comments »
Tags: DEET, Dengue fever, Insect bites, Malaria, Permethrin, Pyrethroid, Tropics