In summer, people are most afraid of two things: one is the scorching sun, the other is annoying mosquitoes.
After being bitten by mosquitoes, you will feel itching in mild cases, severe allergic reactions in severe cases, and even infectious diseases such as dengue fever.
In the second half of 2017, dengue fever broke out in many parts of China. Severe dengue fever can lead to shock and death.
In any case, the war against mosquitoes will definitely be fought.
Some mosquito repellent products claim to be [pure natural], but in fact the anti-mosquito effect is not good and may even endanger health. Although some products contain chemical components, these components are safe and effective.
The principle of mosquito prevention is very simple.
Usually we use physical methods to isolate mosquitoes, such as using mosquito nets and screen windows indoors, wearing long-sleeved clothes and trousers when going out for activities, etc.
Sometimes it is not convenient to use physical methods to prevent mosquitoes, so it is necessary to use the help of chemicals.
Using chemical components to prevent mosquitoes, there are mainly two ways to kill mosquitoes and repel mosquitoes:
1. Mosquito control
Killing mosquitoes means directly [eliminating] mosquitoes with mosquito-repellent incense, insecticide and other products. This method is simple, crude and destructive.
Step 2: Mosquito repellent
Smearing certain chemicals on the skin or clothing surface can drive away mosquitoes and keep them away from the skin.
Next, let’s take a look at the reliable and unreliable products for mosquito control and mosquito repellent respectively.
Stop using traditional mosquito-repellent incense!
The most common anti-mosquito products include insecticides, mosquito-repellent incense, mosquito-repellent slices, mosquito-repellent liquid, etc.
Only by using them correctly can we achieve the best mosquito repellent effect without harming our health.
1. Insecticides
Insecticides available in China are usually in the form of spray, which is not good for health whether it is inhaled into respiratory tract or touched skin.
Use Suggestion: After spraying, close the doors and windows tightly and people should leave the room. After a period of time, open the doors and windows, thoroughly ventilate and breathe, and then enter the room to move when the smell dissipates.
2. Mosquito-repellent incense
The main component of mosquito-repellent incense is usually pyrethrin, which is not very harmful in itself.
However, in the process of burning traditional mosquito-repellent incense, other chemicals will be produced, such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, etc. This will multiply the value of PM2.5 in the room, which is not conducive to human health.
Use Suggestions: Not Recommended.
3. Electric mosquito slice, electric mosquito liquid
The main components of electric mosquito tablets or electric mosquito liquid are usually pyrethroids, and brand products available on the market are relatively safe.
Use Suggestions: Avoid children’s direct contact with such products and avoid inhalation or ingestion by mistake. In addition, attention should be paid to ventilation when using them, and never think that closing the door is effective.
[Pure Natural] Mosquito Repellent Products Unreliable
When we buy things, we often have a special liking for [pure natural] goods. So, how effective is the so-called [pure natural] mosquito repellent?
In fact, these products may not be reliable, and some may also irritate the skin.
The only pure natural mosquito repellent registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is lemon eucalyptus oil.
This ingredient lemon eucalyptus oil is not recommended for children under the age of three. In addition, its effective mosquito repellent time is very short, less than two hours. Therefore, it is relatively not so practical.
At present, most of the relatively safe and reliable effective mosquito repellent products are synthetic chemicals. There are three kinds registered by EPA in the United States, namely DEET, picaridin and mosquito repellent ester.
1. DEET
DEET is the most widely used mosquito repellent, which can repel mosquitoes for 2 hours at 10% concentration. 24% concentration can repel mosquitoes for 5 hours. 30% concentration can repel mosquitoes for 6 hours.
After the concentration exceeds 30%, the improvement of mosquito repellent effect is not obvious.
DEET products are safe and can be used by babies over 2 months old. Be careful not to use them on children’s hands and eyes.
2. Pikaredin
Picaridin (isobutyl hydroxyethyl piperidine carboxylate) can repel mosquitoes for 7 hours at 20% concentration and 5 hours at 10% concentration. It can be used for babies over 2 months old.
3. Mosquito repellent ester
Mosquito repellent grease (IR3535, ethyl butyl acetylaminopropionate) is a short-acting mosquito repellent.
The 7.5% concentration can maintain the mosquito repellent effect for 10 ~ 60 minutes, which is not as good as DEET and picaridine. It can be used for babies over 2 months old.
Mosquito repellent ester is the most common effective component in toilet water in China. In some toilet water, the effective concentration of mosquito repellent ester is only 4.5%, and the mosquito repellent effect is not ideal.
By the way, I would like to remind you that some toilet water contains mint. Mint has potential neurotoxicity and is not recommended for children under 2 years old.
The above mentioned several effective mosquito repellent ingredients are all suitable for babies over 2 months old.
Babies under 2 months old do not have suitable mosquito repellent products to use, only physical mosquito prevention measures can be adopted.