Malaria and Mosquito Repellent

Hi All

I'm going on a trip which will include Thailand, Cambodia,
India, Jordan, Egypt and Yucatan in a few weeks.

I will be doing the normal prophylaxis for malaria. I have
to be fairly careful with a shaky immune system.

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

I'll be talking to my doc on medication prophylaxis, but any
thoughts on that would also be appreciated.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia

In Alan S
wrote:

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.

Around here, DEET (N, N-Dimethyl-metatoluamide) is still the only way to
go (the mosquito is Minnesota's unofficial state bird).

Conventional wisdom used to be that 100% DEET (or close to it) was
needed, but lower concentrations have been found effective by many.

3M sells a lotion called "UltraThon" which is 34% DEET which they claim
lasts 12 hours and is water and perspiration resistant. Don't know if
it's available where you are.

You might also consider permethrin based products for application to
your CLOTHING [never on your skin] if you're seriously concerned.


--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

On Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:23:56 +1100, Alan S wrote:

Hi All

I'm going on a trip which will include Thailand, Cambodia,
India, Jordan, Egypt and Yucatan in a few weeks.

I will be doing the normal prophylaxis for malaria. I have
to be fairly careful with a shaky immune system.

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

I'll be talking to my doc on medication prophylaxis, but any
thoughts on that would also be appreciated.

Only those with Deet work as a mosquito repellent, unless you want to
try what we used in Vietnam which was tabacco juice, which I wouldn't
recommend but it sure works. Probably for the same reason as it kills
humans. You should ask your doctor what concentration is safe for you
given your condition. Sleep with a mosquito net even if you have to
take one with you which is what I would do.

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
Hi All

I'm going on a trip which will include Thailand, Cambodia,
India, Jordan, Egypt and Yucatan in a few weeks.

I will be doing the normal prophylaxis for malaria. I have
to be fairly careful with a shaky immune system.

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

I'll be talking to my doc on medication prophylaxis, but any
thoughts on that would also be appreciated.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia

As others have said, concoctions based on DEET work best. In Australia,
Bushmans is 80% DEET. Freely available in Qld and most of the tropics I
think. Not sure about southern states.Whatever you get, make sure its cream
or oil based....sprays are useless.

It's widely available in Sydney - chemists, camping shops etc.

"Lee Martin" wrote in message
...

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
Hi All

I'm going on a trip which will include Thailand, Cambodia,
India, Jordan, Egypt and Yucatan in a few weeks.

I will be doing the normal prophylaxis for malaria. I have
to be fairly careful with a shaky immune system.

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

I'll be talking to my doc on medication prophylaxis, but any
thoughts on that would also be appreciated.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia

As others have said, concoctions based on DEET work best. In Australia,
Bushmans is 80% DEET. Freely available in Qld and most of the tropics I
think. Not sure about southern states.Whatever you get, make sure its
cream or oil based....sprays are useless.

In article , Alan S says...

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

The Autan they sell here in Germany blocks mosquitoes 100%. Much, much
more efficient than what I have been able to find in south east Asia. My
experience is that with the Autan (sold in Germany) mosquitoes do not
sting me.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Alfred Molon" schrieb
The Autan they sell here in Germany blocks mosquitoes 100%.

To my experience in SE Asia: yes, correct.
Other travellers told me: doesn't work at all for me!

My experience: Koh Samed, maybe 4 years ago
Around 5:30PM I sprayed all bare skin with Autan, shortly after I went
outside, in front of the bungalow.
Moskitoes swirled all around me in large numbers (on Samed they eat you
alive at certain times of day!), but none of them actually sat down and
tried sucking my blood.

Maybe the travellers with negative experiences for Autan didn't apply
enough or left out some places on their skin... who knows.

Much, much
more efficient than what I have been able to find in south east Asia.

Well, "Sketolene" sold in Thailand does the job very well too. Comparable
to Autan IMHO.
IIRC it has about 15...20% DEET.

My experience is that with the Autan (sold in Germany) mosquitoes do
not sting me.

Maybe it's the same with Autan bought in other countries.
My bottle of Autan (bought in Germany) contains 20% of the active agent
(not DEET).


AFAIK the Autan agent was developed in comparison to DEET and it was said
that the new agent was even a bit (some %) more effective than DEET.


To summarize my experience:
Either Autan or DEET will do their job quite good.
Look out for high % of the active agent. A minimum of 15...20% should work
for you.
Spray generously. Better one pumping too much than one too little.
Spray each cm² of your uncovered skin. Whats not sprayed thats not
protected.

BTW: if you're outside, maybe bungalow in the evening: get Moskito Coils.
To my experience they work too.


cu, Thomas

In message
Alfred Molon wrote:

In article , Alan S says...

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

The Autan they sell here in Germany blocks mosquitoes 100%. Much, much
more efficient than what I have been able to find in south east Asia. My
experience is that with the Autan (sold in Germany) mosquitoes do not
sting me.
That's true, provided that you cover every mm of your skin. However,
it's a bite repellant not an insect repellant as such. When we were in
Austria, that was the one everyone recommended. So we went to
Marchauen-Marchegg slathered in Autan. Right enough, we didn't get
bitten there, but every time we stopped, they got into our mouths,
behind our glasses, into our ears, generally swarmed around us all the
time. Meaning we had to frog-march the whole 7 km without seeing
anything at all. :-(

Slainte

Liz

--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
Hi All

I'm going on a trip which will include Thailand, Cambodia,
India, Jordan, Egypt and Yucatan in a few weeks.

I will be doing the normal prophylaxis for malaria. I have
to be fairly careful with a shaky immune system.

I would appreciate suggestions on the most effective rub-on
or spray-on mosquito repellents for daily personal use.
Preferably one that doesn't also repel those who sit next to
me in buses and which doesn't make me appear to be covered
in baby oil and which is likely to be available in those
countries if replenishment is needed.

I'll be talking to my doc on medication prophylaxis, but any
thoughts on that would also be appreciated.

Malaria medication can have some nasty side-effects, especially if taken
for longer than eight weeks or so.

Plus it can make you drowsy, affect sleep patterns and all sorts of nasty
stuff. The reason people start it before they go is to find out if you can
function while taking the stuff. It also isn't that effective, it only
seems to stop 30% to 50% of infections...

In India I find that decent anti-insect discipline when sleeping (always
switch on the electric mosquito killer, make sure the window meshes are in
good condition) and rub on DEET (about 30% works, anything over 50%
irritates my skin) about an hour before dusk if going out of doors.

There's an old trick you can try, which is to spray some 100% DEET on your
hat brim now and again, but your hat gets in a disgusting state after a
month or so...

As for brands, the 'Boots' own brand 'tropical strength stuff works.

So does one called 'Jungle Juice' but it's three times the price...

My experience is that the best you can buy is the stuff the local chemist,
wherever the insects are, recommends, because the insects vary...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"William Black" wrote:

Malaria medication can have some nasty side-effects,
*especially if taken for longer than eight weeks or so.

Plus they each have their trade-offs. FWIW, one of them (I forget
which: its the one that is one pill per week) has a side effect
warning of "vivid dreams" ... this is a polite way of saying
"nightmares". I've taken this stuff, and I found that my balance was
off on the day after taking it (got less bad over time).


In India I find that decent anti-insect discipline...
...and rub on DEET (about 30% works, *anything over 50%
irritates my skin) about an hour before dusk if going out of doors.

DEET is a known carcinogen, so it is wise to limit your exposure
instead of bathing in the stuff. This means to be aware of both how
many hours/day its on your skin, as well as the concentration level in
use.

The recommended maximum concentration is now around 33%, which will
provide protection for around 2/3rds as long as the full 100%
concentration does. As far as how many hours per application this is
worth depends on which numbers you believe, but figure it to be 8hrs
if you believe that 100% lasts 12hrs, or 5-6hrs vs 8hrs.

In general, use good prevention techniques of tucking in pants legs,
putting protective stuff on clothing, etc, to minimize the actual
amount of skin in contact with DEET, and then plan your application
times to allign with times of higher exposure risk (dawn, dusk,
etc).

BTW, particularly when you get above 50% DEET, the nastiness of this
chemical will damage plastics (etch & craze). Be particularly aware
of hand contact with your camera. This doesn't mean that 30%
concentration can't cause damage, but rather that it won't do it quite
as quickly or severely as higher concentration stuff.


-hh