Mosquito nets, do I need to take one to Goa & Kerala

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:45

Visit www.deet.com.

It makes for interesting and informative reading and will help clear a lot of doubts regarding insect repelants.

Nick-H · Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:23

...Not exactly an independent site

But it links to other sites, and I see no reason to argue with the conclusion that:

Quote:

Currently available non-DEET repellents do not provide protection for durations similar to those of DEET-based repellents and cannot be relied on to provide prolonged protection in environments where mosquito-borne diseases are a substantial threat.

quoted from this site as it is pretty much in line with every other test I've seen published on the web

karma_police · Dec 22nd, 2006, 20:50

Baby: Fair enough, but if you read this www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-uses-of-lavender-oil.htmyou can see it is considered a repellent.

Thing is, with any repellent and any net, you will probably be bitten once if out in India for 3 months etc. So the best recommednation is to take preventative tablets against malaria. Of course all possible ways of avoiding the bites are ideal! I was just recounting what I was told by the holisitc trainee I know

Nick-H · Dec 22nd, 2006, 21:46

...everybody has their pet theory, and some aromatherapists I've known have more pet theories than pet cats

It can be bad enough with the things that have passed lab tests: as I said earlier, one commercial repellent totally failed to protect me.

One approach might be to experiment. Take a box of essential oils. But it could cost you an awful lot of bites

, or on the other hand, might prove nothing if they wouldn't have bitten you in the first place.

OK, here's me being the eternal cynic, but we know nothing about the person who wrote the wisegeek page (at least you know your friend!). The fact that they quote Culpeper, rather than a modern and currently respected herbal, does not fill me with confidence!

We should also check that these people know about mosquitoes in the tropics and about the dangers of the diseases they carry.

Whilst citronella is on the tried-and-tested list, I don't recall lavender being there. Which could, of course, just mean it hasn't been tested!!!

Noodle · Dec 22nd, 2006, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by karma_police

Thing is, with any repellent and any net, you will probably be bitten once if out in India for 3 months etc. So the best recommednation is to take preventative tablets against malaria.

Let's not start a panic. It's highly unlikely you catch malaria when bitten once. I have been living in India since 1995, I can't even count how many mosquito bites I have had over the past 12 years (inspite of my efforts with Autan, nets, Odomos, citronella oila and what not) and don't have malaria.

I have never taken preventive malaria tablets - they make me feel sick (tried them a couple of times). Some malaria drugs can even have severe side effects or long term effects on the liver.

One has to weigh the pros and cons. It also depends where you are travelling, some areas are as far as I know not considered high-risk for malaria. I chose to protect myself as best as possible and not take the tablets as I find the risk too high. So far I'm okay *knock on wood*

If you do take malaria tabelts use Malarone (sorry if I'm repeating anything said already earlier in this thread) they have the least side effects.

BabyBlue · Dec 23rd, 2006, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by karma_police

Baby: Fair enough, but if you read this www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-uses-of-lavender-oil.htmyou can see it is considered a repellent.

Thing is, with any repellent and any net, you will probably be bitten once if out in India for 3 months etc. So the best recommednation is to take preventative tablets against malaria. Of course all possible ways of avoiding the bites are ideal! I was just recounting what I was told by the holisitc trainee I know

Fair enough! I just don't want people putting themselves at risk with unproven methods that's all - my guy said they didn't work, your guy said they did, so it's up to each individual I guess to decide what's best for them!

Nick-H · Dec 23rd, 2006, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

I have been living in India since 1995, I can't even count how many mosquito bites I have had over the past 12 years (inspite of my efforts with Autan, nets, Odomos, citronella oila and what not) and don't have malaria.

12 years! Wow, my immune system has a way to go to catch up with yours

...

Autan ...that was the one that didn't work for me!

haddojetty · Dec 23rd, 2006, 16:35

What should I give to my 6 year old for 3 weeks protection in Goa? I don't think I'm going to bother with tablets-last time I was in India I was there for 6 months and didn't take a single tablet-I was ok.

Spirit of Havelock · Dec 23rd, 2006, 18:11

I took an expensive net with me first time - most times there was nothing to hook it to, and you feel hotter under it. Best bet, leave the ceiling fan on (which helps as they can't land), open a window for fresh air and light a coil. You have a comfortable cool night's sleep and you won't get bitten.

I always thought the mozzies in India were a minor problem, in Uruguay they can simply wreck your sleep - never had that in 4 long trips to India.

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 23rd, 2006, 18:19

You can also plug in a repellant device, like Good Knight or All Out, it works just fine.

Nick-H · Dec 23rd, 2006, 23:37

Oh, they can, and do, wreck my sleep here!

But, I dread to think what they would be like in a South American rain forest!

anjunaangel · Dec 24th, 2006, 00:14

odomos is the answer to all your worries ,can be used on kids and really works and is only about 15 rupees a tube.i always used ti buy all the repellents but this really does work try it and see what do you have to loose????????

Noodle · Dec 24th, 2006, 00:16

Yeah, I only use Odomos on my hands for sleeping, for me it works.

Nick-H · Dec 24th, 2006, 00:18

Odomos here too...

karma_police · Dec 24th, 2006, 06:08

one thing to be considered is that mosquitos apparently prefer the smell of some people more than others.. but this could be rubbish, its all food...

anyway i was speaking to this guy in the local travel shop and he told me that during his long stint in africa he used three methods: 1 was insect deet, 2 was lavender oil, 3 was burning lots of elephant s*hit!! (had net also) He had maybe 1 or two bites the whole time, and swore by this method.

thankfully there are many elephants in India, on the other hand i don't know how pleased the owners of a hotel would be in the knowledge that you were igniting large amounts of dung in their rooms!!

BUT he mentioned the lavender oil without any prompting which surprised me and reminded me of this thread. So I bought a bottle of it today as I'm now certain that I at least will benefit... I will keep IndiaMike posted on any results of this experiment.

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Dec 21st, 2006, 23:45	#46
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Visit www.deet.com. It makes for interesting and informative reading and will help clear a lot of doubts regarding insect repelants.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 20:50	#48
karma_police Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London Posts: 8	Baby: Fair enough, but if you read this www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-uses-of-lavender-oil.htmyou can see it is considered a repellent. Thing is, with any repellent and any net, you will probably be bitten once if out in India for 3 months etc. So the best recommednation is to take preventative tablets against malaria. Of course all possible ways of avoiding the bites are ideal! I was just recounting what I was told by the holisitc trainee I know

Dec 22nd, 2006, 21:46	#49
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,960	...everybody has their pet theory, and some aromatherapists I've known have more pet theories than pet cats It can be bad enough with the things that have passed lab tests: as I said earlier, one commercial repellent totally failed to protect me. One approach might be to experiment. Take a box of essential oils. But it could cost you an awful lot of bites , or on the other hand, might prove nothing if they wouldn't have bitten you in the first place. OK, here's me being the eternal cynic, but we know nothing about the person who wrote the wisegeek page (at least you know your friend!). The fact that they quote Culpeper, rather than a modern and currently respected herbal, does not fill me with confidence! We should also check that these people know about mosquitoes in the tropics and about the dangers of the diseases they carry. Whilst citronella is on the tried-and-tested list, I don't recall lavender being there. Which could, of course, just mean it hasn't been tested!!!

Dec 23rd, 2006, 16:35	#53
haddojetty Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Posts: 48	What should I give to my 6 year old for 3 weeks protection in Goa? I don't think I'm going to bother with tablets-last time I was in India I was there for 6 months and didn't take a single tablet-I was ok.

Dec 23rd, 2006, 18:11	#54
Spirit of Havelock Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 98	I took an expensive net with me first time - most times there was nothing to hook it to, and you feel hotter under it. Best bet, leave the ceiling fan on (which helps as they can't land), open a window for fresh air and light a coil. You have a comfortable cool night's sleep and you won't get bitten. I always thought the mozzies in India were a minor problem, in Uruguay they can simply wreck your sleep - never had that in 4 long trips to India.

Dec 23rd, 2006, 18:19	#55
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	You can also plug in a repellant device, like *Good Knight* or *All Out*, it works just fine.

Dec 23rd, 2006, 23:37	#56
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,960	Oh, they can, and do, wreck my sleep here! But, I dread to think what they would be like in a South American rain forest!

Dec 24th, 2006, 00:14	#57
anjunaangel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: uk Posts: 191	odomos is the answer to all your worries ,can be used on kids and really works and is only about 15 rupees a tube.i always used ti buy all the repellents but this really does work try it and see what do you have to loose????????

Dec 24th, 2006, 00:16	#58
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Yeah, I only use Odomos on my hands for sleeping, for me it works.

Dec 24th, 2006, 00:18	#59
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,960	Odomos here too...

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Dec 24th, 2006, 06:08	#60
karma_police Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London Posts: 8	one thing to be considered is that mosquitos apparently prefer the smell of some people more than others.. but this could be rubbish, its all food... anyway i was speaking to this guy in the local travel shop and he told me that during his long stint in africa he used three methods: 1 was insect deet, 2 was lavender oil, 3 was burning lots of elephant s*hit!! (had net also) He had maybe 1 or two bites the whole time, and swore by this method. thankfully there are many elephants in India, on the other hand i don't know how pleased the owners of a hotel would be in the knowledge that you were igniting large amounts of dung in their rooms!! BUT he mentioned the lavender oil without any prompting which surprised me and reminded me of this thread. So I bought a bottle of it today as I'm now certain that I at least will benefit... I will keep IndiaMike posted on any results of this experiment.