Ahhh....summer ' s almost here....and so are the insects!

From the desk of Josie Dawe, CPNP:Josie Dawe, CPNPIt ' s almost summer time, the time when children commonly experience insect bites. Insect bites can include mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers and flies to name a few. While most insect bites are harmless, some can be dangerous. In fact, Illinois has seen an increase in the number of mosquito-related illnesses in recent years according to The Center for Disease Control (CDC). Nationwide there has been an increase in the number of tick-related illnesses and this year is expected to be a heavy tick season as the mild winter has allowed ticks to thrive and emerge earlier than usual.One way to protect your child is through the proper use of insect repellents.  Insect repellents come in many forms including sprays, liquids, creams and sticks and can be made of both chemical and natural ingredients. DEET containing products generally provide best defense but should be used cautiously on children. The amount of DEET in products can range so be sure to read of label. In general, products containing 10% DEET repel insects for 2 hours, and those containing 30% DEET repel insects for 5 hours. Studies show products with greater than 30% DEET show no additional protection and should not be used in children.Here are some Do ' s and Don ' ts for safe use of insect repellent:Do ' s:Only apply insect repellents on the outside of clothes and to exposed skin.Wash skin with soap and water to remove any remaining repellent once ret...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news