One of the most annoying things on a tropical holiday is insect bites. They can be such a nuisance that they can in fact ruin a perfectly good holiday. Apart from the worry that they might be malarial mosquitos, they can also transmit a variety of quite unpleasant infections.
The question most people ask is what on earth can I do about them. There is no doubt that some seem to attract biting insects more than others, and for myself I seem to be a main meal for sandflies in the tropics, and midgies in Scotland. So what's to be done about it.
Personal insect repellents will be needed by most travellers and usually contain DEET which is diethyltolu-amide. Liquid formulations are the cheapest but are less convenient to carry. Lotions and cream are available and sprays are the easiest to apply but are bulky to carry. Sticks of repellent are easier to carry and last the longest. All these should be applied to the skin and to clothing adjacent to exposed areas of skin, but should not be applied around the eyes, nose and mouth, and you must really take care with children.
DEET dissolves plastics, including carrier bags, so beware. An alternative to DEET containing repellents is Mosiguard Natural. Marketed by MASTA, this is made from a blend of eucalyptus oils and is as effective as repellents based on DEET. It is also much more suitable for people who are sensitive to DEET.
When abroad, try to reduce the amount of skin exposed to biting insects by wearing long sleeves, and long trousers or skirts. If a mosquito net is provided with your bed, use it. Per-methrin-impregnated mosquito nets are effective and can be purchased before travel to malarial areas. 'Knock-down' insecticide sprays may be needed, and mosquito coils are easy to carry. Electric buzzers that imitate male mosquito noises are useless and candles and repellent strips containing citronella are not very effective.
If you are bitten by insects, try to avoid scratching, which can introduce infection, particularly in the tropics. Eurax cream or calamine lotion can relieve local irritation, and anti-histamine tablets may help those who have been bitten extensively.
Antihistamine creams should be used with caution as they can cause local reactions, and it is better to use weak hydrocortisone cream on bites that are very irritating. Hydrocortisone cream should only be used if the skin is not obviously broken or infected. Increasing pain, redness, swelling or obvious pus suggest infection, and medical attention should always be sought.
Hopefully this brief article on insect bites will have given you some of the information you need. Finally try to avoid being outside at dusk or dawn unless you are well covered, and gentlemen it is better to wear socks than leave your ankles exposed.
Ian has returned to his first love travel writing, and discovering new places to go and stay. Take a look at beach vacation places, with some interesting places you may not have heard of. Also check out Best Beach Vacations where you will find even more places to take your holidays on the beach.
The question most people ask is what on earth can I do about them. There is no doubt that some seem to attract biting insects more than others, and for myself I seem to be a main meal for sandflies in the tropics, and midgies in Scotland. So what's to be done about it.
Personal insect repellents will be needed by most travellers and usually contain DEET which is diethyltolu-amide. Liquid formulations are the cheapest but are less convenient to carry. Lotions and cream are available and sprays are the easiest to apply but are bulky to carry. Sticks of repellent are easier to carry and last the longest. All these should be applied to the skin and to clothing adjacent to exposed areas of skin, but should not be applied around the eyes, nose and mouth, and you must really take care with children.
DEET dissolves plastics, including carrier bags, so beware. An alternative to DEET containing repellents is Mosiguard Natural. Marketed by MASTA, this is made from a blend of eucalyptus oils and is as effective as repellents based on DEET. It is also much more suitable for people who are sensitive to DEET.
When abroad, try to reduce the amount of skin exposed to biting insects by wearing long sleeves, and long trousers or skirts. If a mosquito net is provided with your bed, use it. Per-methrin-impregnated mosquito nets are effective and can be purchased before travel to malarial areas. 'Knock-down' insecticide sprays may be needed, and mosquito coils are easy to carry. Electric buzzers that imitate male mosquito noises are useless and candles and repellent strips containing citronella are not very effective.
If you are bitten by insects, try to avoid scratching, which can introduce infection, particularly in the tropics. Eurax cream or calamine lotion can relieve local irritation, and anti-histamine tablets may help those who have been bitten extensively.
Antihistamine creams should be used with caution as they can cause local reactions, and it is better to use weak hydrocortisone cream on bites that are very irritating. Hydrocortisone cream should only be used if the skin is not obviously broken or infected. Increasing pain, redness, swelling or obvious pus suggest infection, and medical attention should always be sought.
Hopefully this brief article on insect bites will have given you some of the information you need. Finally try to avoid being outside at dusk or dawn unless you are well covered, and gentlemen it is better to wear socks than leave your ankles exposed.
Ian has returned to his first love travel writing, and discovering new places to go and stay. Take a look at beach vacation places, with some interesting places you may not have heard of. Also check out Best Beach Vacations where you will find even more places to take your holidays on the beach.
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