The importance of insect
repellents
In case you have not noticed, biting insects such as fleas, ticks, and
mosquitoes are out in full force, sending record numbers of patients into
urgent care centers. Symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease range from relatively
minor skin irritations, to life-threatening brain inflammation. West Nile Virus
can also leave survivors with long-term disabilities including chronic fatigue
and even paralysis. This has led to concerns over the best possible insectrepellents. Not only with regard to their effectiveness, but also taking into
consideration their possible health hazards.
Natural is not necessarily better
It is completely understandable that many patients associate “natural”
products with better health. A great number of patients would rather use mosquitorepellents that are derived from “natural” products such as plant extracts.
However, when it comes to mosquito repellents, there is clear evidence that natural
repellents may not provide the best outcomes.
·
Field tests and studies have shown that the two most
effective repellents are DEET and picaridin.
·
Studies have shown that “natural,” or botanical
based repellents are substantially less effective against mosquitoes than DEET
or Picaridin.
·
Products that contain citronella, lavender,
peppermint and lemon grass oils are often promoted as “DEET-Free” alternatives.
·
Botanical-based repellents do provide effective
protection against biting mosquitoes.
·
Botanicals need to be reapplied 3-4 times as
often as the lowest dose DEET-based repellent in order to provide comparable
protection.
·
Botanical repellents may work just fine for a short
stay in the backyard, but not for hours of working in the garden or if you are
hiking all day in the woods.
Convenient, walk-in care for
Germantown, MD
We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to
healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in
care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly
staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate
services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities
are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients
and their healthcare needs.
Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated
with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of
injury or illness that may present itself. Call Medical Access today; or simply
drop in as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for
any non life-threatening health issues.
