Mosquitoes and DEET

The answer is C. If you want to do everything you can to avoid mosquito bites -- short of never going outside -- you should wear long pants and long sleeved shirts in light colors, and spray your clothes with DEET. The pants and long sleeve shirts are to give the mosquitos less access to your skin, they seem to be less attracted to light colors than dark.

Mosquitoes are most active at sunrise and sunset. If you plan to be outdoors at these times, the CDC recommends using an insect repellent containing DEET.

Mosquitoes are attracted to people by their skin odors and by the carbon dioxide released while breathing. DEET repels mosquitoes, but does not kill them.

Insect repellents containing DEET are effective and safe if directions are properly followed. However, using a repellent containing more DEET will not necessarily protect you better, but it may protect you longer. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. For example, a product containing 23.8% DEET provides about 5 hours of protection from mosquito bites.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends products with a low concentration of DEET, about 10% or less, for children between ages two and twelve.

It is a good idea to wear clothes sprayed with DEET, rather than applying the substance directly to your body. Applying DEET directly to the skin sometimes causes problems to sensitive people especially small children.

Resources:

Become familiarized with insect repellent use and safety.

Learn why DEET is often regarded as the most effective mosquito repellent.

Read some tips on how to safely use DEET on children.

August 9, 2003