Natural mosquito protection: What works to keep bugs away
by Joyce Slaton posted in Products & Prizes
As if itchy, crazy-making mosquito bites weren't enough of a motivation to make you spray on mosquito protection, the Zika virus has just about every pregnant woman in the world terrified.
Zika has been declared an international public health emergency, and since there is currently no vaccine to prevent or treat it, avoiding mosquito bites is essential.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends several strategies for preventing mosquitos bites, including wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors, avoiding travel to areas affected by Zika, and staying inside protected by screens and air conditioning. But when you must be outdoors, insect repellents are crucial. "When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women," says the CDC. But even though the CDC has declared repellents with DEET safe for pregnant women and babies aged 2 months and up, it's the rare mom who doesn't feel nervous spraying chemicals around her developing fetus or small baby.
So you'll be relieved to know that there are several non-DEET alternatives for young children or pregnant women. Picaridin is perhaps the best natural DEET replacement. It's a synthetic compound made to resemble the natural compound piperine -- the "hot" in black pepper.
Picaridin has been used as an insect repellent for decades in Europe and Australian, but only availab...
-------------------------------- |
|
Leighton Park School Stages Their Very Own Student Election
03-05-2024 08:25 - (
moms )
Crate & Barrel Hampshire Cribs Recalled
30-04-2024 08:00 - (
moms )