Mosquito nets and travelling

[donnashuggy]

Any recommendations?

Our son is travelling soon to all kinds of places and I keep reading and hearing conflicting advice about them and negative things about taking malaria tablets.

[donnashuggy]

The nets are treated with some kind of insect repellant.

[donnashuggy]

For example http://www.unicef.org/supply/index_39977.html

[vicr3000]

Donna

DEET is a pretty danderous chemical if misused.

I use 80 per cent but not long term because it is so strong.


Dont ow about the nets.

[lurker172602]

I was prescribed, and took, Doxycycline when we went to Cambodia and Vietnam.  I had severe nausea and extreme sun sensitivity; I burnt almost to a crisp.  To the point where I was willing to just use repellant and take the risk.

[donnashuggy]

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@lurker172602 wrote:

I was prescribed, and took, Doxycycline when we went to Cambodia and Vietnam.  I had severe nausea and extreme sun sensitivity; I burnt almost to a crisp.  To the point where I was willing to just use repellant and take the risk.

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OMG

[lurker172602]

But on the bright side, I did lose several kilos. 

Seriously, I probably didn't ask enough questions when I was prescribed it, given other conditions.  And with hindsight I should have tested my reactions before leaving home. My husband, who took the same tablets, had no problems at all.

[vicr3000]

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@donnashuggy wrote:

Any recommendations?

Our son is travelling soon to all kinds of places and I keep reading and hearing conflicting advice about them and negative things about taking malaria tablets.

---

Donna

You might want to pass this piece of advice onto your son.

From personal experience I can attest it is true

[vicr3000]

Donna

How did your son go ?

Anyway, I just happened to catch this article this morning, thought it might be of interest.

Espcially the bit at the bottom re DEET. It seems things have moved on for the better from my comment about it being

dangerous in high strength, although interesting that both I and this article used the word "misused".

"You might find many "natural" insect repellents in pharmacies and health food stores, but the evidence is that the most effective insect repellents are synthetic:  products containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and picaridin.  The runner up is a botanical pesticide called PMD made from lemon eucalyptus leaves.

"Although it's not as effective as DEET or picaridin, it outperforms all other botanical products," says Webb.

"There are some misconceptions about the safety of DEET, but it's been used for 70 years with few adverse effects and reviews of studies into DEET say that it's safe. Where there have been adverse events it's usually because it's been misused."

If you're buying insect repellent containing DEET, it's important to understand how long the product is effective for once it's applied, he adds – a product with five per cent DEET will last for around one hour, while a product with 80 per cent DEET may last for more than eight hours."

Subject to NOT sweating it all off during those 8 hours ! (My words)

What makes you a magnet for mozzies?

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/what-makes-you-a-magnet-for-mozzies-20150208-136kp9...