Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
01.22.2016
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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Misuse of repellents can cause poisoning in children and adults; learn techniques and see how many times a day you can apply it, according to the composition of the product
Everyone wants to distance the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but for the repellent to have the desired effect you need to pass it properly
With the epidemic of disease caused by the mosquito Aedes aegypti - dengue virus and chikungunya zika - increasingly severe, insect repellents are increasingly highlighted, reaching be missing from pharmacies. However, to properly protect not enough to buy the first repellent you see in the pharmacy and apply it indiscriminately.
At the risk of throwing money away and end up unprotected, you must obey some rules so that the effectiveness is satisfactory and no major problems occur, such as poisoning. Repellent is not a dull water, but a product which, when used incorrectly, it may cause side effects.
A dermatologist Carolina Marçon, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology says that there are basically three types of repellents available in Brazil. "What contains DEET, IR 3535 or icaridine" she says. The first of these, DEET is the most common and protects the person from insect bites for four hours on average. The IR 3535 also drives away mosquitoes for up to four hours. The most effective of them, based on icaridine, can drive away the winged up to 10 hours, reducing the amount of application throughout the day.
See also: 10 facts you need to know about the Aedes aegypti
"We must apply the insect repellent at most three times a day, so the icaridine is more interesting, given its prolonged efficacy. In addition, when applying less often, the risk of reaction to the spray decreases, "says the doctor.
Currently, however, consumers have had trouble finding the product, as only one brand in Brazil sells repellent with this active ingredient. According to the company's marketing department, the production of this type of repellent increased eight times, but still does not account for all the demand.
The chairman of the dermatology department of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, Kerstin Taniguchi Abagge explains that most repellents use DEET, synthetic substance that can cause allergic skin reactions, depending on the sensitivity of each, the concentration of the vehicle (if cream, alcoholic lotion or spray) and the skin is injured or not, since lesion facilitate the penetration of substances.
"There are currently repellents without DEET, which are safer for children," said the doctor. "Some repellents cause serious reactions when ingested, so there is a large surveillance Anvisa as the concentration that can be marketed in Brazil," says Kerstin.
Children under two years old must pass away from insect repellents, unless express recommendation and guidance of the pediatrician. "The child has little body defense and skin that absorbs more. Use repellent under two years of age can cause systemic, neurological and pulmonary complications, "says the dermatologist. Mosquito nets can help prevent bites in this case.
Above this age, the repellent is relatively safe. In normal use, does not usually present problems, even for those with respiratory illnesses that usually suffer from inhaled chemicals. This security there since the middle of the active ingredient administration is generally alcoholic, explains pulmonologist Hospital of São Paulo Clinics Francisco Mazon, who is also a professor at the University of São Paulo (USP).
The right way to apply
Insect repellent should be applied to exposed areas - including the face - up to three times a day is recommended to Carolina. The pulmonologist HC Francisco Mazon further explains that excessive application of repellent increases the risk of poisoning.
"It varies with the type and amount of spray used," details. According to Francisco, part of the repellent can be absorbed through the skin, especially the mucous membrane, hence the recommendation to avoid contact. "Care must be taken to apply to the face, avoiding contact with mucous membranes - mouth, nose and eyes - and always apply in well-ventilated location," recommends.
More: Aedes aegypti is more dangerous for the elderly, hypertension, diabetes and heart
In addition, Kerstin recommends that parents or caregivers of children wash their hands after application, as they may put hands in the eyes or mouth. "A child should not sleep with the repellent, but showering with soap and water to remove it," he warns. The same recommendation applies to adults. Do not sleep with insect repellent, says Carolina.
In the case of the elderly, the repellent should be applied with caution as they have the most fragile skin, according to geriatrician at the Hospital das Clinicas in Sao Paulo, Paulo Camiz.
"If there are wound, can be absorbed by the body and be toxic repellant. This can also occur in young people, but the chance of an elderly injure the skin, being more fragile, is greater, "warns Camiz.
Citronella
For the president of the dermatology division of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, the repellent citronella base, as well as other plants, they are not harmless and do not show a higher effectiveness others.
"They can cause allergic reactions and even reactions of type 'Phytophotodermatitis', such as those caused by fruits like lemon and milky plants," she says. "Not always said products 'natural' are better than synthetics," says Kerstin.
Carolina explains that there are no studies showing that citronella is a better option. "So repellents with citronella oil, eucalyptus and andiroba have proven safe to use in children. In addition, they are very volatile and have very short action time, "he says. "But it can not be applied more than three times a day," she recommends.
Furthermore, Carolina explains that the bracelet with citronella is not efficient. "It protects a four centimeters radius around, or only that part of the arm" alert.
Source: Earth
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.