Keeping Insect Repellents Away From Children
Suggested lead: You'll want to make surethe insect repellent your children are using does not contain D-E-E-T. Tom Britt has more.
Fifty million Americans will be using insect repellent this summer, hoping to avoid mosquitoes and other annoying insects, and many ofthe repellents used will contain the chemical DEET. Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohammed Abou Donia says that while DEET can be effective, it can also be dangerous, especially for children.
"The DEET could become very toxic. There are reports inthe literature in which children have actually died following exposure to DEET. DEET, under certain circumstances, affects the central nervous system and causes neurologic deficit and eventually death."
Abou Donia says a child's body and skin are simply not able to process or protect againstthe potential harmful effects of DEET. And even adults need to avoid using DEET if they are taking any kind of medication, even for a cough or cold. The medication could cause a reaction, even in an adult. I'm Tom Britt.
Abou Donia says if you have to use a chemical repellent, use as little as possible.
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"Not only with DEET, but with any insecticide, one has to be careful to limit exposure. If you have to use it, usethe least amount that you can get by with. This is the first rule. The second rule is try not to combine it with other chemicals."