AUTAN comparable with DEET?

Marco Polo · May 27th, 2007, 00:02

I've read this:
Autan is the leading brand of insect repellent. Autan contains a revolutionary and unique active called Icaridin* (the trade name of the patented chemical KBR 3023), which was developed during a 12-year research programme.

A recent report by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme concluded that Icaridin* can be recommended as the repellent of choice for malarial prevention.
The report's finding show that Icaridin* has both good safety profile and cosmetic properties. Alone or in typical formulations it does not significantly attack common household materials. The survey also notes that, in tests under temperate and tropical conditions against important malarial and other disease carriers, it demonstrated excellent repellent qualities comparable with, and often superior to, those of standard DEET. As a result, Icaridin* can be recommended as a safe and effective insect repellent for human use. A single application can give up to 8 hours protection from mosquito bites.

Does anybody have any experience with Autan in India?

Nick-H · May 27th, 2007, 00:09

Yes.

I used it on a holiday to Kerala in 2003, I think.

It was completely and absolutely useless. I got bitten to pieces, despite using the stuff liberally.

But useless for me might be great for you. this combination of repellent and body odour seems to be a very personal thing.

PeakXV · May 27th, 2007, 00:28

Send some to me and I'll test it in our Butterfly meadow cum Mosquito swamp ..... but so far deet-based bug dope is the only concoction you can get near the little paradise with .....

Baba · May 27th, 2007, 00:30

Careful, there are different kinds of Autan.

The "old" Autan used to contain DEET, but I don't think that it is still on the market.

Autan "Family" is pretty harmless stuff containing neither DEET nor KBR. I have never used this.

Autan "Active" contains the new KBR and I use it when I'm in India. I find it better than the DEET version. Now I am prime mozzie food and the Keralan beasts sting through your clothes, so I do go inside for an hour at sunset.

federica · May 27th, 2007, 04:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Yes.

I used it on a holiday to Kerala in 2003, I think.

It was completely and absolutely useless. I got bitten to pieces, despite using the stuff liberally.

But useless for me might be great for you. this combination of repellent and body odour seems to be a very personal thing.

The same thing happened to me with a DEET lotion recommended by the Swiss tropical institute.... It was only good as a nail polish remover.... Maybe mossies in Kerala are special

For me the only effective stuff was Odomos, but I think everyone makes different experiences.... bring a bottle and have a try...

Nick-H · May 27th, 2007, 09:31

How individual these things are!

Odomos is actually DEET, although the long chemical name is confusing for us mere mortals. It is a fairly low concentration too (about 12% I think?) so good for a couple of hours but not really to be recommended for lasting through the night.

Having said that, I use it --- it is cheap and easily available. And the Chennai mosquitoes could eat the Kerala ones alive

ranjan154 · May 27th, 2007, 09:36

I wonder why I never felt need of any repellent during my entire trips.. Seems like we (Indians) already have some in-built resistance.

Nick-H · May 27th, 2007, 09:59

There are two things here, Travinfo...

One is that some people just do not attract mosquitoes. Oh, lucky beings!

The other is that your immune system has got used to the bites and doesn't react. This is definitely true of many people here, including my wife: she only really registers bites if she sees the creature biting her, the evidence it leaves is the tiniest red pinprick.

My doctor told me that, one day, my immune system will get used to them and another long-termer on IM told me that it happened for her, after several years.

So you are either ugly to mosquitoes

or don't notice the bites you do get!

edwardseco · May 27th, 2007, 12:42

Autan was badly panned by a Consumer Reports study because of one key weakness. It didn't work well against malarial mosquitos..

Nick-H · May 27th, 2007, 12:55

makes it rather pointless for India, then

.

And might explain why those mossies ignored the stuff when I tried it.

federica · May 27th, 2007, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

Autan was badly panned by a Consumer Reports study because of one key weakness. It didn't work well against malarial mosquitos..

hm... malaria mosquitoes are anopheles mosquitoes... I think this is the most common mossie all around, just that it spreads malaria in some parts of the world and in some parts not... so if it is not working against this kind of mossie, than there is no use at all!

In Germany they recommend Autan (with Bayrepel) against malaria mossies as even better and more efficient than DEET, as it lasts longer (even after more than 7 hours).... So what to believe? My personal experience with Autan is not from India, so I can't help too much in this regard.... I really think mosquito protection is something highly individual....

dhans · May 27th, 2007, 19:12

We use DEET.

It's 40 or 50% for the adults and 30 % for the kids.

Autan just does not do the trick.

Hans

May 27th, 2007, 00:02	#1
Marco Polo Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 50	AUTAN comparable with DEET? I've read this: Autan is the leading brand of insect repellent. Autan contains a revolutionary and unique active called Icaridin* (the trade name of the patented chemical KBR 3023), which was developed during a 12-year research programme. A recent report by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme concluded that Icaridin* can be recommended as the repellent of choice for malarial prevention. The report's finding show that Icaridin* has both good safety profile and cosmetic properties. Alone or in typical formulations it does not significantly attack common household materials. The survey also notes that, in tests under temperate and tropical conditions against important malarial and other disease carriers, it demonstrated excellent repellent qualities comparable with, and often superior to, those of standard DEET. As a result, Icaridin* can be recommended as a safe and effective insect repellent for human use. A single application can give up to 8 hours protection from mosquito bites. Does anybody have any experience with Autan in India?

May 27th, 2007, 00:09	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	Yes. I used it on a holiday to Kerala in 2003, I think. It was completely and absolutely useless. I got bitten to pieces, despite using the stuff liberally. But useless for me might be great for you. this combination of repellent and body odour seems to be a very personal thing. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

May 27th, 2007, 00:28	#3
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,784	Send some to me and I'll test it in our Butterfly meadow cum Mosquito swamp ..... but so far deet-based bug dope is the only concoction you can get near the little paradise with ..... __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

May 27th, 2007, 00:30	#4
Baba Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 218	Careful, there are different kinds of Autan. The "old" Autan used to contain DEET, but I don't think that it is still on the market. Autan "Family" is pretty harmless stuff containing neither DEET nor KBR. I have never used this. Autan "Active" contains the new KBR and I use it when I'm in India. I find it better than the DEET version. Now I am prime mozzie food and the Keralan beasts sting through your clothes, so I do go inside for an hour at sunset. __________________ Baba

May 27th, 2007, 09:36	#7
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 842	I wonder why I never felt need of any repellent during my entire trips.. Seems like we (Indians) already have some in-built resistance. __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

May 27th, 2007, 09:31	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	How individual these things are! Odomos is actually DEET, although the long chemical name is confusing for us mere mortals. It is a fairly low concentration too (about 12% I think?) so good for a couple of hours but not really to be recommended for lasting through the night. Having said that, I use it --- it is cheap and easily available. And the Chennai mosquitoes could eat the Kerala ones alive

May 27th, 2007, 09:59	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	There are two things here, Travinfo... One is that some people just do not attract mosquitoes. Oh, lucky beings! The other is that your immune system has got used to the bites and doesn't react. This is definitely true of many people here, including my wife: she only really registers bites if she sees the creature biting her, the evidence it leaves is the tiniest red pinprick. My doctor told me that, one day, my immune system will get used to them and another long-termer on IM told me that it happened for her, after several years. So you are either ugly to mosquitoes or don't notice the bites you do get!

May 27th, 2007, 12:42	#9
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,588	Autan was badly panned by a Consumer Reports study because of one key weakness. It didn't work well against malarial mosquitos..

May 27th, 2007, 12:55	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	makes it rather pointless for India, then . And might explain why those mossies ignored the stuff when I tried it.

May 27th, 2007, 19:12	#12
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,372	We use DEET. It's 40 or 50% for the adults and 30 % for the kids. Autan just does not do the trick. Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

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