There are many diseases spread by the bite of infected insects. This
article focuses on methods of bite avoidance and therefore ways to reduce
not only the inconvenience of insect bites but also ways to reduce the
chances of contracting any one of the potentially life threatening diseases
including malaria that can be contracted this way

Different types of mosquito will bite at different times, for example
the mosquito that carries malaria predominantly bites between dusk and
dawn whereas the one that carries dengue fever (predominantly present
in Asia but also in the Americas an Africa) will bite during the day,
so good bite avoidance techniques should be employed whenever biting insects
are present.

There are several basic ways to reduce insect bites and these will be
considered in turn. They are to:

Ø Reduce general exposure to insects

Ø Apply repellent to the skin

Ø Use insecticides which are impregnated into materials such
as clothing or mosquito nets

Ø Remove insects from the environment using contact insecticides,
e.g., knock-down sprays or burners/mats

Reducing Exposure

This means reducing the amount of exposed skin that is available for
the mosquito to bite, therefore long sleeved shirts, trousers and socks
should all be worn. It’s also been found that the mosquitoes find
it more difficult to bite through loose as opposed to tight clothing.

Another way to prevent mosquitoes getting to your skin is to ensure
that you always sleep in a mosquito net, these should either have a very
fine weave to prevent any insect getting through no matter how small it
is, or a larger weave that allows air to circulate better but these should
be impregnated with an insecticide (see later)

Application of Repellents

There are many different types of repellent on the market but one of
the best is still DEET, when applied in concentrations of at least 20%
(many contain 40-50%) it is both long lasting and effective. It is safe
when applied to the skin but can damage plastics so its always advisable
to wipe your hands after application or you may find that when you go
to put your sunglasses back on you leave fingerprints on the lenses. It
will also sting the eyes and lips and therefore should never be sprayed
directly on the face but can be applied lightly using the hands. Citronella
oil and especially its derivatives are also very effective but citronella
oil on its own doesn’t last very long at all and would need to be
reapplied every hour or so.

Whichever repellent you use it is important to reapply regularly, its
difficult to say exactly how often but no repellent will last more than
about 4 hours or so (unless it is specially formulated into a slow-release
application) and factors such as humidity, wind and the amount you sweat
will all reduce effective duration but every couple of hours should suffice.
Its also important to cover all exposed skin, not forgetting the ears
or the back of the neck since mossies will always manage to find that
one little patch of forgotten skin and have a feast!

High strength DEET can also be applied to wrist and ankle bands to be
worn at high risk times and if these are stored in a little airtight bag
they will remain active for days before another application is required.

Use of Insecticides

The type of insecticide now most commonly used is called permethrin,
It’s available for application directly to clothing or in a much
stronger solution that can be used to soak mosquito nets and give protection
for up to 3-6 months. All nets should be treated where possible because
if even a single mosquito gets into your net with you it is trapped for
the night, with only you to feed on. It can land on a non treated net
for a rest and then return to you for a further meal. When sprayed onto
clothing it will effectively kill any insect that lands on the treated
clothing and thus prevent the mosquito from biting you for up to two weeks.
This method of bite avoidance is advisable for those individuals who find
themselves particularly susceptible to insect bites or are in areas of
particularly high risk of disease transmission. When using these products
it is advisable to avoid contact with the skin whilst still wet, but once
dry it is totally safe for humans and it is impossible to tell whether
clothing has been treated or not. It doesn’t even smell unlike DEET
that used to be used to treat clothing and nets

Removal of Insects from the Environment

These are generally ways to kill insects present in rooms etc. Knockdown
sprays are very effective and readily available and the best way to use
them is often to spray the room before you go out in the evening and let
the insecticide do its work whilst you are enjoying yourself. Alternatively
if you have an uninterrupted electricity supply, plug in products that
release permethrin-type insecticide into the room throughout the night
are very effective. They rely on a small heating element that will either
vaporise fluid or heat little mats that in turn release the active ingredient
into the room, again harmless to humans and virtually odourless. You can
also purchase coils that burn releasing the insecticide, these can produce
small amounts of smoke and fumes and should therefore not really be used
in enclosed environments, they are however very useful when eating outside.
A small piece of a coil (one coil lasts about 10 hours) burnt under the
table will keep the mossies away from your ankles – one of the most
popular areas for biting insects. Air conditioning will also reduce the
number of bites you get during the night if you have none of the other
options since lower temperatures do not encourage the mosquitoes to feed
and the constant flow of air makes it more difficult for them to find
you.

Formore information, visit the Nomad Travel website:Nomad Travel or call the Travel Health
Line: 0906 8633414 (calls cost 60p per min) to discuss your travel health
queries with a medical.