Deet / Dengue/ Chikungunya

[THAIPHUKET]

I had dengue, it was no fun, a repetition apparently can be worse. Friends had chikungunya, several months, very painful.

Nothing really helps.

I use OFF/DEET but I still get bitten, I wonder are these charming little things immune against that repellent?

Must every square inch of exposed skin be drained with DEED to work?

I have a hard time to sit in my garden, bandaged up to my ears, no, better including the ears because they seem to be a delicacy and if bitten, they tend to balloon enormously.

http://goo.gl/lRwqO

[Sheryl]

Some simple environmental measures may work wonders. The mosquito which carries dengue has a very short flight range, so eliminating mosquito breeding spots immediately around your home will make a big difference. this means ensuring that any water jars are securely covered and draining off any areas where water tends to collect. Puddles immediately after rain are OK but make sure that you don't have pools or puddles of standing stagnant water too close by. These are where the mosquitoes breed.

If you have standing water you can't get rid of for some reason, adding tilipia fish will help as they eat the mosquito larvae.

Have you tried the organic insect repellents made of citronella? Smell nicer and are less toxic.Sold everywhere that traditional Thai herbal products are sold.

Lastly some people find that taking supplemental b6 helps deter bites, although this has not been proven. And of course frequent baths.

[THAIPHUKET]

I tried to be humerous but the subject is serious.

WHO estimates at least 50 million Dengue infections p.a. The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. Some 2.5 billion people – two fifths of the world's population – are now at risk from dengue.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a potentially lethal complication, was first recognized in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand. Today DHF affects most Asian countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the region.

Mosquitos are the greatest killer, 1 million Malaria death alone p.a., 200 million infections.

It is under intense research. The US military did study came to the conclusion that only DEET and wind are effecitve. Wind not because mosqutios are not strong enough to fly against the wind but what they need is people's CO2 emission (breath/skin ) to locate their target.

I my daily live I refuse to become paranoid about anything. So I will use OFF/DEET off and on. It's lottery game. But still I would like to hear if others are bitten still. Do you cover every inch of exposed skin? What about light material, I find the buggers easily penetrate thin cloth.

To keep your direct enviroment free of breeding places may be simple, but we do move about, shopping, restaurant, etc.

In these places it is more likely to get infected than at home.

[crab]

I got dengue fever in July last year and felt like I aged five years. Horrid business, and I still have vestigial weakness in my left arm 11 months later. It's certainly a very serious issue, and in my case was a significant factor in my decision to move back from a charming "jungle" house - infested with mosquitoes and giant gekkoes - outside Pak Chong to the boring civilisation of Pattaya. From what I have heard elsewhere, Sheryl's advice is correct and to the point.

And I can't stand the smell of OFF. I'd rather stay indoors. And be bitten there, perhaps.