Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch, we've been talking about bug bites and stings and how to treat them. The best way to deal with bug bites, though, is to avoid them in the first place.
Dr. Robin Carder, a dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, suggests wearing long pants and long sleeves if you're going into wooded or grassy areas where bugs tend to lurk.
The most effective insect repellent is one containing DEET, and you can spray it on your body or on clothes. Use a formula containing less than 10 percent on children, and don't spray it on hands or faces where they might ingest it. Infants should be protected with clothing or mosquito netting instead of chemical repellents. You can also try repellents containing citronella or soybean oil. These are generally safe, but may not be as effective as DEET-based repellents. Staying indoors at dusk when mosquitoes are most active can also help prevent bites.
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August 2005
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