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Insect Repellents: Types, Safety, and Proper Use

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Shivankan Kakkar
Shivankan Kakkar

A guide to different insect repellents, their effectiveness, and safe application practices.

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Insect Repellants Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD
Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 2 Introduction to Insect Repellents Definition: Substances applied to skin, clothing, or surfaces to deter insects. Primary Use: Protection against mosquitoes and other pests (flies, fleas, cockroaches). Importance: Reduces risk of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 3 Mechanism of Action Host Attraction: Mosquitoes use smell to locate hosts (human body odour & CO ). Repellent Action: Interact with insect odorant receptors to deter mosquitoes. Efficacy Assays: Host-attraction inhibition and other methods to measure effectiveness.
Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 4 Common Synthetic Repellents 1. DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) o Widely used for over 70 years. o Effective for 1-6 hours. o Absorbed through skin; may cause irritation. 2. Picaridin o Synthetic equivalent of piperine. o Offers 6-12 hours of protection; less irritation compared to DEET. 3. Pyrethroids (Prallethrin, Transfluthrin) o Fast-acting, effective in vapor form. o Potential side effects include nausea and dizziness.
Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 5 Natural Repellents Essential Oils: Generally less effective and shorter lasting. Common Types: o Citronella Oil: Effective for ~2 hours. o Lemon-Eucalyptus Oil: Active against mosquitoes. o Neem Oil: Effective for up to 12 hours; has a strong odor. Safety: Typically considered nontoxic for children and pregnant women.
Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 6 Safety & Precautions Side Effects of DEET: o Skin irritation, insomnia, mood disturbances. o Neurotoxicity and seizures in rare cases. Usage Tips: o Avoid contact with eyes/mucous membranes. o Reapply as needed, but avoid overuse.

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Insect Repellents: Types, Safety, and Proper Use

  • 2. Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 2 Introduction to Insect Repellents Definition: Substances applied to skin, clothing, or surfaces to deter insects. Primary Use: Protection against mosquitoes and other pests (flies, fleas, cockroaches). Importance: Reduces risk of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
  • 3. Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 3 Mechanism of Action Host Attraction: Mosquitoes use smell to locate hosts (human body odour & CO ). Repellent Action: Interact with insect odorant receptors to deter mosquitoes. Efficacy Assays: Host-attraction inhibition and other methods to measure effectiveness.
  • 4. Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 4 Common Synthetic Repellents 1. DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) o Widely used for over 70 years. o Effective for 1-6 hours. o Absorbed through skin; may cause irritation. 2. Picaridin o Synthetic equivalent of piperine. o Offers 6-12 hours of protection; less irritation compared to DEET. 3. Pyrethroids (Prallethrin, Transfluthrin) o Fast-acting, effective in vapor form. o Potential side effects include nausea and dizziness.
  • 5. Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 5 Natural Repellents Essential Oils: Generally less effective and shorter lasting. Common Types: o Citronella Oil: Effective for ~2 hours. o Lemon-Eucalyptus Oil: Active against mosquitoes. o Neem Oil: Effective for up to 12 hours; has a strong odor. Safety: Typically considered nontoxic for children and pregnant women.
  • 6. Dr. Shivankan Kakkar, MD 6 Safety & Precautions Side Effects of DEET: o Skin irritation, insomnia, mood disturbances. o Neurotoxicity and seizures in rare cases. Usage Tips: o Avoid contact with eyes/mucous membranes. o Reapply as needed, but avoid overuse.