Article Type
Changed
Wed, 06/23/2021 - 12:12
Display Headline
What insect repellents are safe during pregnancy?

With summer almost upon us, and the weather warming in many parts of the country, we have received questions from colleagues about the best over-the-counter insect repellants to advise their pregnant patients to use.

The preferred insect repellent for skin coverate is DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) (TABLE). Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol and IR3535 are also acceptable repellents to use on the skin that are safe for use in pregnancy. In addition, patients should be instructed to spray permethrin on their clothing or buy clothing (boots, pants, socks) that has been pretreated with permethrin.1,2

TABLE OTC insect repellents appropriate for use in pregnancy
RepellentProductManufacturerNotes
DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
 

 

Off!SC JohnsonPreferred repellent for
use on the skin
 
Repel 100Spectrum Brands
Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled ReleaseSawyer
Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/
para-menthane-diol
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect RepellentSpectrum BrandsAcceptable option for
skin use
IR3535Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 ExpeditionAvonAcceptable option for
skin use
PermethrinRepel Permethrin Clothing & Gear AerosolSpectrum BrandsFor use
on clothing
Permethrin Pump SpraySawyer
Abbreviations: OTC, over the counter

 

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

References
  1. Peterson EE, Staples JE, Meaney-Delman D, et al. Interim guidelines for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak – United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(2):30-33.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Features: Avoid mosquito bites. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html. Updated March 18, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2016.
Author and Disclosure Information


Dr. Chelliah is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.


Dr. Duff is Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine.

 

The authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Issue
OBG Management - 28(5)
Publications
Topics
Legacy Keywords
Anushka Chelliah MD,Patrick Duff MD,insect repellent,pregnant women,Zika virus,DEET,N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide,Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol,IR3535,permethrin,Off!,Repel,Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled Release,Sawyer,SC Johnson,Spectrum Brands,Skin So Soft Bug Guard plus IR3535 Expedition,Avon,for use on clothing,for use on skin,
Sections
Author and Disclosure Information


Dr. Chelliah is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.


Dr. Duff is Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine.

 

The authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Author and Disclosure Information


Dr. Chelliah is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.


Dr. Duff is Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine.

 

The authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Related Articles

With summer almost upon us, and the weather warming in many parts of the country, we have received questions from colleagues about the best over-the-counter insect repellants to advise their pregnant patients to use.

The preferred insect repellent for skin coverate is DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) (TABLE). Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol and IR3535 are also acceptable repellents to use on the skin that are safe for use in pregnancy. In addition, patients should be instructed to spray permethrin on their clothing or buy clothing (boots, pants, socks) that has been pretreated with permethrin.1,2

TABLE OTC insect repellents appropriate for use in pregnancy
RepellentProductManufacturerNotes
DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
 

 

Off!SC JohnsonPreferred repellent for
use on the skin
 
Repel 100Spectrum Brands
Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled ReleaseSawyer
Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/
para-menthane-diol
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect RepellentSpectrum BrandsAcceptable option for
skin use
IR3535Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 ExpeditionAvonAcceptable option for
skin use
PermethrinRepel Permethrin Clothing & Gear AerosolSpectrum BrandsFor use
on clothing
Permethrin Pump SpraySawyer
Abbreviations: OTC, over the counter

 

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

With summer almost upon us, and the weather warming in many parts of the country, we have received questions from colleagues about the best over-the-counter insect repellants to advise their pregnant patients to use.

The preferred insect repellent for skin coverate is DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) (TABLE). Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol and IR3535 are also acceptable repellents to use on the skin that are safe for use in pregnancy. In addition, patients should be instructed to spray permethrin on their clothing or buy clothing (boots, pants, socks) that has been pretreated with permethrin.1,2

TABLE OTC insect repellents appropriate for use in pregnancy
RepellentProductManufacturerNotes
DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
 

 

Off!SC JohnsonPreferred repellent for
use on the skin
 
Repel 100Spectrum Brands
Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled ReleaseSawyer
Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/
para-menthane-diol
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect RepellentSpectrum BrandsAcceptable option for
skin use
IR3535Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 ExpeditionAvonAcceptable option for
skin use
PermethrinRepel Permethrin Clothing & Gear AerosolSpectrum BrandsFor use
on clothing
Permethrin Pump SpraySawyer
Abbreviations: OTC, over the counter

 

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

References
  1. Peterson EE, Staples JE, Meaney-Delman D, et al. Interim guidelines for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak – United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(2):30-33.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Features: Avoid mosquito bites. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html. Updated March 18, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2016.
References
  1. Peterson EE, Staples JE, Meaney-Delman D, et al. Interim guidelines for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak – United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(2):30-33.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Features: Avoid mosquito bites. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html. Updated March 18, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2016.
Issue
OBG Management - 28(5)
Issue
OBG Management - 28(5)
Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Display Headline
What insect repellents are safe during pregnancy?
Display Headline
What insect repellents are safe during pregnancy?
Legacy Keywords
Anushka Chelliah MD,Patrick Duff MD,insect repellent,pregnant women,Zika virus,DEET,N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide,Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol,IR3535,permethrin,Off!,Repel,Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled Release,Sawyer,SC Johnson,Spectrum Brands,Skin So Soft Bug Guard plus IR3535 Expedition,Avon,for use on clothing,for use on skin,
Legacy Keywords
Anushka Chelliah MD,Patrick Duff MD,insect repellent,pregnant women,Zika virus,DEET,N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide,Oil of lemon/eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol,IR3535,permethrin,Off!,Repel,Ultra 30 Liposome Controlled Release,Sawyer,SC Johnson,Spectrum Brands,Skin So Soft Bug Guard plus IR3535 Expedition,Avon,for use on clothing,for use on skin,
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Alternative CME
Use ProPublica
Hide sidebar & use full width
render the right sidebar.
Conference Recap Checkbox
Not Conference Recap
Clinical Edge
Display the Slideshow in this Article
Medscape Article
Display survey writer
Reuters content
Disable Inline Native ads
WebMD Article