Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Insect Repellent

One of the most annoying things about spending time outdoors are the insects. You don’t want to have to stay inside so a good alternative is to use insect repellent. You should know right off the bat that not all of them are the same quality. It is worth it to spend more to get something that is really going to work. There is no insect repellent that will work for all of them though. Too many of them have built up an immunity to certain types of chemicals and they aren’t going to stay away.

You should be able to find a good insect repellent that contains high levels of DEET. This is important due to the many reported cases of West Nile from mosquitoes that have been confirmed in recent years. You also need to make sure it is applied every couple of hours when you are outdoors. Even children need to be wearing it. There are some types of sunscreen that also have insect repellent in them as well. You want to look for something waterproof so the sweat from the heat won’t remove it either.

Some people think they should only apply insect repellent when their skin is exposed. This isn’t the case though and many types of insects can bite right though the think layers of summer clothing. To give you the right level of protection you should also spray it on your clothing.

Not all types of insect repellent are for a person to put on though. You can combine many different types in order to have the best chances of getting rid of all of them. There are candles you can place outdoors that look and smell lovely. At the same time though they will be keeping insects away from you.

Some people still use those bug zappers with lights that attract them. This can be handy but they are also very annoying. The bright lights can be distracting and that zap sound each time one is in contact with it will become frustrating rapidly. There are plug in devices you can use if you have an area for it. They give off ultrasonic pulses that will also repel insects.

Insect Bites

Insect bites are definitely something you want to keep an eye on. They can be very uncomfortable to deal with. One of the most common types of insects that bite are mosquitoes. If you aren’t properly prepared for them with a good repellent they can leave bites all over your body. They will become swollen and itchy and it can be difficult to refrain from scratching them.

Some types of insects will bite you as a way of survival. They need to live on the host or they need to take blood from it. Other types of insects will only bite when they feel like they are in danger. It is an instinct that they have by nature to help them continue to be able to survive in their natural habitat. You may not know right away that you have been bitten by an insect. With others there will be instant pain and there will be no mistake that something just isn’t right.

For most of us insect bites are annoying and something we wish to avoid. Other people though may find their life is in danger when they get bitten by such an insect. This is often due to an allergic reaction. Immediate medical attention will be required if this person is to make a full recovery. It is important to let people around you know if you have such an allergic reaction.

With many insect bites there is the risk of some type of health issue. For example the mosquito has been linked to West Nile disease. People have become extremely ill from it and many have even died due to not seeking treatment for it. Do all you can to avoid insect bites for yourself and for your family.

Should someone get bitten and have any type of reaction such as a fever you should get to a doctor right away to have the situation evaluated. Any time there is a rash on the body after an insect bite you should have it looked at. With some types of spider bites you will also experience pus coming out of it. This is definitely something to have your doctor look at. It may be necessary for you to get a shot or an oral antibiotic in order to fully recover from the insect bite.