In Reply to: Danger of DEET posted by heckendorfmortgage on Thursday, 17. January 2008 at 14:29 Bali Time:
"Use of an effective mosquito repellent on exposed skin and clothing.
DEET (diethylmethylbenzamide) is an effective safe component of good
repellents. The actual concentration of DEET varies widely between
different manufacturers, and can be as high as 90% (too high for safety).
Choose a repellent with between 30-45% DEET and take the following
precautions against adverse reactions:
a. apply sparingly and only to exposed skin
b. never apply high concentrations to skin (use those for clothing)
c. do not inhale / swallow repellent or get in eyes or mucous membranes
d. do not apply to hands that may touch eyes or mouth
e. do not apply to wounds, rashes, or abrasions
f. wash repellent off after coming indoors to stay
g. if skin starts to burn, wash repellent off and seek medical advice
DEET-based repellents should last for up to 4 hours. "
The whole website page is informative. You might find it interesting too, so here it is:
http://www.expat.or.id/medical/dengue.html