原文: Summer safety: Mosquitoes be gone!

I just noticed that the Weather Channel web site now provides information entitled: "Mosquito Activity Forecast." Worse, in the mid summer, it often reads: "HIGH. Be on the lookout! Lurking mosquitoes likely to be busy."

And, in case that does't serve to completely bum you out, they feel compelled to remind us that "female mosquitoes require a blood meal from time to time." (for the protein to nourish their eggs, which is why the male mosquitoes don't bite).

• There are estimated 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1,000 trillion) mosquitoes on planet Earth!
• They've been around for 30 million years, perfecting their ability to detect your heat, light, body odor, and carbon dioxide. All the better to eat you with, my dear.
• Once you are bitten, the proteins in their saliva set up an immune response --> swelling and itching.
• Mosquitoes are the world's most dangerous creatures:
  - The diseases they spread have killed more people than all the wars in history.
  - World-wide, mosquito-spread diseases kill 2 - 3 million people/year by infecting an estimated 200 million/year with malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, dengue fever.
  - Fortunately, in the U.S. mosquito-spread disease is rare; only West Nile Virus and various kinds of encephalitis are of any concern.

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Avoiding mosquito bites

I know it's just a matter of time before stories of West Nile Virus and encephalitis hit the news stands and my WebMD Message Board lights up with parental panic. So let's discuss how to avoid mosquito bites for you and your kids (adapted from the CDC):

• When possible, have your kids wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
  
• Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors.
  
• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening (peak mosquito biting times).
  
• Install or repair window and door screens so mosquitoes cannot sneak indoors.
  
• At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
  
• Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water, such as old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles, clogged rain gutters, and trash containers.

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Insect repellents

Short of going outside in a bubble (which I wish more kids would do), the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to apply an effective repellent. The most effective insect repellents contain deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide).

Is deet safe for kids?

• The risk of adverse reactions and illness from deet, when used prudently and as directed, appears to be very low.
• There is no specific data on the worry of skin absorption of deet in children. However, data on similar chemical suggests that after 2 months of age, there should be no increased soaking through the skin. Therefore, deet is not recommended for use in infants under 2 months of age.

Step-by-step tips on applying insect repellent on kids:

• The concentration of deet in products may range from less than 10% to over 30%.
  
• The major difference relates to how long they are effective. Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours; a concentration of about 24% affords an about five hours of protection. Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time to be spent outdoors.
  
• Deet should generally not be applied more than once a day.
  
• Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or to clothing (as directed on the product label), not under clothing, on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin, nor on the eyes and mouth.
  
• When using sprays do not spray directly onto the face; spray on your hands first and then apply to face.
  
• Do not allow children to handle the products. Do not apply to children's hands.
  
• Do not spray in enclosed areas to avoid breathing it in. Do not use near food.
  
• A heavy application is generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film, then apply a bit more.
  
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water and wash treated clothing before wearing them again.
  
• If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue its use and wash the affected skin. If/when you go to a doctwasr, take the repellent with you.

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What about "natural" insect repellents? Other insect repellents used in children include those made with Citronella and soybean oil. However, these are not nearly as effective in warding off mosquitoes, do not last as long, and do not protect against most stinging insects, including wasps, bees, and fire ants. Remember, "natural" does not necessarily mean "safer."

Picaridin. A new repellent contains the chemical picaridin. Consumer Reports (Dr. P's bible) found it as effective as deet and states it is "worth a try...if you need just a few hours of protection and if you don't like the odor or feel of repellents containing deet." Apparently, picaridin has been used world-wide since 1998 and the World Health Organization regards the proper use of picaridin as "safe".

Oil of lemon eucalyptus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it considers oil of lemon eucalyptus, like picaridin, as effective against mosquitoes as deet. I haven't had any experience with it and safety data is lacking.

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Dr. P's bottom line

These new preparations may turn out to be effective, but none have been as well studied as deet for effectiveness and for potential side effects. For now, I'm sticking with deet.

Remember: A skeeter bite-free summer is a happy summer. Take care!

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Want yet more info? Check out the CDC's Website.

Other Summer Tips from Dr. P: Summer Sun Protection

Related Topics: Mosquito Repellents: What Works, Are You A Mosquito Magnet?

译文: 夏日安全防护:让蚊子见鬼去吧！

最近，我发现在天气预报的网站上提供了一种叫做“蚊子活动预测”的信息，而在夏日中旬的时候，为了引起公众注意，会将之表示为：“高度注意，小心警惕起来，潜伏在四周的蚊子们正在俟机 行动。”

或许这则警示并不能让我们进入高度警备状态，但至少他会提醒我们“那些雌性蚊子会不时地吸食新鲜血液”（以此来获得蛋白质，给他们的虫卵提供养分，这也就是为什么雄性蚊子不用吸食血液的原因了。）

• 据称在地球上存在着1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 （1000万亿）只蚊子！
• 他们已经在地球上存活了大约3千万年，在侦测体热、光线、体味以及二氧化碳方面进化良好，良好到足够发现你、叮咬你了。
• 一旦你被他们叮咬，他们唾液中的蛋白质成分就会建立一种免疫反映，让被叮咬的地方放大表现并瘙痒难耐。
• 蚊子是世界上最最危险的一种生物：
  - 通过他们所传播的疾病而导致的死亡人数超过了历史上因为战争原因而引起死亡的人数总和。
  - 每年因为蚊子叮咬要感染上疟疾、丝虫病、黄热病和登革热病症的人据称达到了2亿，其中因为这些世界范围内传播疾病而引起的死亡人数也达到了每年的2至3百万人。
  - 幸运的是，在美国那些由蚊子而传播的疾病是非常罕见的，除了西尼罗河病毒和其他一些脑炎种类需要引起借鉴。

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避免蚊子叮咬

我也明白，那些新闻中心得知关于西尼罗河病毒和脑炎疫情只不过是个时间问题，但是，我的信息留言版却可以让各位家长们更加对这些病毒引以为鉴，所以接下来就让我们来讨论讨论，如何在能让你和你的孩子们避免蚊子的叮咬：

• 如果可能，请尽量让孩子们在户外穿长衣长裤还有袜子。
  
• 在户外的时候，给婴儿车照上防蚊网。
  
• 在黎明、黄昏以及傍晚（这些蚊子叮咬肆虐高峰的时候）请尽量呆在室内。
  
• 如果门窗还没有安上纱窗的话就马上安上，如果纱窗坏了的请马上修好，只有这样，蚊子才无从进入室内。

         ·每周至少清空花盆、宠物食盘、容器、鸟窝、游泳池、水桶还有罐子中的水至少一次到两次。

         ·通过减少盛水的容器，比如旧轮胎、罐子、水桶、瓶子、木制雨槽和垃圾容器来限制屋子周围蚊子产卵的地方。

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杀虫剂

 如果只是需要匆匆地经过一条小溪（我想很多孩子喜欢这么做），那么避免蚊子叮咬最好的方法就是使用一种效果良好的杀虫剂，事实上，效果最好的杀虫剂中都包含一种避蚊胺的驱蚊剂。

避蚊胺对孩子们来说安全吗？

• 避蚊胺有毒和致病风险在谨慎和指导的使用下是非常低的。
• 对于孩子的皮肤在吸收避蚊胺会引发危险方面并没有特别数据可供显示，但是，类似化学物质对于2个月大的婴儿而言，并不会刺激皮肤进一步吸收。因此，并不推荐2个月以下婴儿使用这种避蚊胺。
  按步解说可适用于孩子的驱蚊剂：
• 产品中驱蚊剂的浓度最好保持在10%以下或者30%以上。
  
• 两种浓度的主要区别在于有效时间的长短。浓度在10%以下的产品有效期仅为大约两个小时，而浓度为24%以上的产品其有效期可以长达大约5个小时，所以请根据户外的所需时间来选择最有效果的浓度最低的驱蚊剂。
• 普遍意义上来说，并不提倡在一天内使用1次以上驱蚊剂。
  
• 驱蚊剂仅适用于裸露在外的皮肤或者衣服表面（一般这都会在产品说明书上有所提示），而不包括衣服包裹的皮肤，或者伤口、皮肤病，也不包括眼睛和嘴巴。
  
• 在使用喷雾产品的时候，不要直接对脸进行喷射，首先将喷雾喷在受伤，再用手涂到脸上。
  
• 不要让孩子们能够触及这些产品，也不要将这些产品应用到孩子们的手部。
  
• 避免在禁闭的空间内使用这些喷舞产品导致吸食到体内，也不要在食品周围使用。
  
• 如果为了延长产品的有效性而提高浓度是完全没有必要的。如果浓度低的产品对于蚊子叮咬起不了作用，那么就多涂一些。
  
• 回到室内以后，马上用肥皂清洗被药剂接触的皮肤，也要在下次穿这些衣服之前好好洗一洗。
  
• 如果你怀疑你或者你的孩子对驱蚊剂产生了副作用的反映，那么请不要继续使用该产品，并且要马上将接触该产品的皮肤处进行清洗。如果你因此而要去看医生的话，那么把这个驱蚊剂也一起带着吧。

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什么是“纯天然”的驱蚊剂呢？其他适用于孩子的驱蚊剂里都包含了一种称作香茅和豆油的物质。但是，这些物质在驱赶蚊子方面并不如人工的一样有效，并且，有效时间也没那么长，他们也不能防止大多数的蚊虫，包括黄蜂、蜜蜂和火蚁的叮咬都具有保护作用。请记住，“天然的”并不意味着就“更加安全”。

Picaridin. 这是一种在驱蚊剂里最新发现的化学用剂。消费者报刊（这是P教授最为信任的一份报刊）发现，它与驱蚊胺一样对驱除蚊子作用非常有效，并且称“如果你只是需要段时间的防护，而且如果你不喜欢那些含有驱蚊胺的产品所散发出来的气味的话，那么这就是一种非常值得一试的产品了。”事实上，自1998年以来这种产品就已经在全球范围内广泛使用，并且，世界安全组织也认为只要使用得当，这种产品就“很安全”。

柠檬树的油脂。 疾病控制和防范中心表示，他们认为柠檬树的油脂和上述产品一样都对预防蚊子叮咬非常有效，由于我对这种产品还没有任何使用经验，所以，其究竟安全与否我也无从知晓。

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P教授的最后声明

这些新型的产品可能对于驱蚊方面非常有效，但是，究竟他们是否如驱蚊胺那样有效持久以及是否具有副作用都未经佐证，现在，我只是在潜心研究避蚊胺的作用而已。

请牢记：一个免于蚊虫叮咬的夏日就是一个快乐的夏日，所以一切小心！

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如果想要查询更多信息的话，请登陆CDC's Website

在 Summer Sun ProtectionP教授还教授了一些其他关于夏日防护的贴士