II. Epidemiology
- DEET used by 200 Million persons worldwide
- Used by 38% of U.S. population
- Only 30 adverse events reported between 1966-1997
III. Indications
- Prevention of Vector-borne Infection in endemic areas
- Prevention of Insect Bite
IV. Mechanism
V. Adverse Effects (DEET)
VI. Efficacy
- DEET is effective against Mosquitoes, ticks, lice, fleas
VII. Technique
VIII. Preparations
- DEET concentration affects duration of activity, not the effectiveness
- Duration 2 hours: 6% DEET
- Duration 2-3 hours: 10% DEET
- Duration 3-5 hours: 20% DEET
- Duration 5-6 hours: 30% DEET
- Longest acting and most effective agents
- Ultrathon (34% DEET): 12 hour protection claimed
- Deep Woods Off (23% DEET): 200-360 minutes protection
- Sawyer Controlled Release (20% DEET): 180-325 minutes
- Slowly releases DEET in response to sweating
- Lower toxicity due to slow release
- Off Skintastic (6.6% DEET): 90-170 minutes protection
- Moderate duration of activity and effectiveness
- Shortest duration and minimal activity (<5 minutes)
- Natrapel (Citronella)
- Herbal Armor (Citronella)
- Green Ban for People (Citronella)
- Buzz Away (Citronella)
- Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard (Citronella)
- Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil
- Skin-So-Soft Moisturizing Suncare (Citronella)
- Gone Original Wristband (9.5% DEET)
- Repello Wristband (9.5% DEET)
- Gone Plus Repelling Wristband (Citronella)
- Alternatives to DEET with similar efficacy to DEET 10%
- Picaridin 7% (e.g. Cutter Advanced)
- Less irritation and better smell and feel than DEET
- Duration of effect is 2 hours
- Lemon Eucalyptus Oil 30%
- Do not use in children under age 3 years (not studied)
- Picaridin 7% (e.g. Cutter Advanced)
IX. Precautions
- Limit DEET concentration to less than 30 to 35%
- CDC recommends DEET 35% for Malaria prevention
X. Management of toxicity
- Skin Decontamination
- Seizure management with Benzodiazepines
- Supportive management
XI. References
- (2005) Prescriber's Letter p. 36
- Fradin (1998) Ann Intern Med 128(11):931-40 [PubMed]
- Fradin (2002) N Engl J Med 347:13-8 [PubMed]
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Definition (MSH) | A compound used as a topical insect repellent that may cause irritation to eyes and mucous membranes, but not to the skin. |
Concepts | Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
MSH | D003671 |
SnomedCT | 15414003, 16968005 |
English | DET, Deet, DETA, N,N Diethyl m toluamide, N,N Diethyltoluamide, N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, N,N-Diethyltoluamide, Benzamide, N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-, N,N Diethyl 3 methylbenzamide, N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, DEET [Chemical/Ingredient], det, deta, deet, deets, diethyl toluamide, DEET, diethyltoluamide, Diethyl toluamide (substance), Diethyl toluamide, DIETHYLTOLUAMIDE, Diethyltoluamide, Diethyltoluamide (substance), DEET N,N-DIETHYL-META-TOLUAMIDE |
Swedish | Deet |
Czech | DEET |
Finnish | DEET |
Russian | DIIT, DIT, ДИИТ, ДИТ |
Japanese | ジエチルトルアミド, デート(防虫剤), デタミド, ディート, メタデルフェン, ジエルタミド, フリペル |
French | DEET, N,N-Diéthyl-m-toluamide, N,N-Diéthyl-méta-toluamide |
Italian | N,N-dietil-3-metilbenzamide, N,N-dietiltoluamide, N,N-dietil-m-toluamide, DEET |
Polish | DEET |
Spanish | dietilotoluamida, deet, dietilotoluamida (sustancia), N,N-dietil-metatoluamida, N,N-dietil-m-toluamida, N,N-dietil-meta-toluamida, Dietiltoluamida, N,N-dietil-3-metilbenzamida, dietiltoluamida (sustancia), dietiltoluamida, DEET |
Portuguese | N,N-dietil-3-metilbenzamida, N,N-dietil-meta-toluamida, N,N-dietil-metatoluamida, N,N-dietil-m-toluamida, Benzamida, N,N-dietil-3-metil-, Dietiltoluamida, DEET |
German | DEET |