Fighting West Nile With Deet
DEET - N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide
DEET - it's THE recommended weapon for fighting West Nile Virus. Is it safe? What are the risks? Let's hop right into this important topic that's going to effect the lives of all Outdoorsmen for years to come!
Fortunately, DEET has been used widespread for many years, developed in 1946 by the United States Army to protect troops stationed in mosquito-infested climates. DEET is extremely effective in repelling not only mosquitoes, but ticks that can carry Lyme Disease, as well as biting insects such as those nasty biting flies that like to harbor around livestock and visit their stables and barns.
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There are only a few reports of people who have experienced an adverse reaction to DEET after proper application. Those are keywords, 'proper application'. Types of reactions that you should be on the lookout for are listed at the end of this article. There is no clinical evidence to support that DEET contributes to cancer at this time. So overall, we're dealing with a pretty safe and effective product - and your best chemical defense for combating West Nile Virus.
Just keep in mind that DEET is a very powerful solvent. It can melt some types of plastic. It's certainly not a product you'd want your eyes or internal organs to come in contact with. DEET can be toxic if ingested. DEET is absorbed through the skin, so very frequent application should be avoided. These are just a few of the reasons why it is so important that DEET is properly applied.
Safe Application of Products Containing DEET
- If you aren't sure that the product contains DEET, look for it's scientific name: DEET - N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamid.
- Follow product directions explicitly. Take a little time to read the label; it may end up saving you a lot of time and heartache.
- Avoid inhaling the vapors - which means that you'll need to apply the product in a well-ventilated area.
- If your skin is irritated, cut, or has open wounds, do not apply the product to the area.
- Avoid saturating yourself with the product. A little works just as effectively as a lot. Remember, the product is absorbed into your skin.
- Do not spray the product onto your face. To apply to the face, spray the product into your hands and carefully smooth onto your cheeks, brow, chin, ears and neck. Avoid application to mouth, nasal and ear canals, and eyes. DEET is not kind to mucus membranes.
- Apply to exposed skin only, as well as your clothing. Do not apply the product beneath your clothing.
- Do not apply to infants, or children under two years of age.
- Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using DEET until more research can be performed.
- When applying the product on children, avoid spraying the product, and apply with your hands. Do not apply the product to the child's hands. Children tend to touch their eyes and mouth a lot, and this is not where you want this product to be. Do not apply DEET to your child's bedclothes or bedding - although the product should be safe for adult use on tents, bedrolls and netting. In addition, for children under the age of twelve, only a 10% concentration of the product should be used.
- Avoid frequent, day-after-day (continuous) use of DEET. As previously stated, our skin absorbs any product we apply - from deodorant to perfume, which in turn enters our bloodstream - just one reason why nursing moms should avoid DEET.
- The product can be applied to pets, but again, apply with hands rather than spraying so that your pet doesn't inhale the fumes; the fumes will not only irritate your pet's mucus membranes, but yours as well.
- As soon as you return to the indoors, hit the tub or shower and wash thoroughly with soap. Do not wear the treated clothing again until it has went through the washer and dryer.
Though adverse reactions are rare, they can occur. Call your physician should you experience any type of the following: skin irritation including:
rash, blistering, mucus membrane irritation
seizures
mood disturbances
insomnia
numbness or burning in or around the lips
breathing difficulties
While you await your doctor's direction, thoroughly remove the DEET with soap and water.
