Here's the buzz on bugs this summer: Because of all the rain
we've had, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting one
of the worst mosquito seasons in recent history. So how do you
protect your children from being a mosquito snack? Parents can
decrease a child's risk of being bitten by using insect
repellent. "The most effective type of repellent on the market
contains DEET, a pesticide that works by masking our release of
carbon dioxide and body odor. That's what mosquitoes are
attracted to," says Robert Edelman, M.D., professor of medicine
and pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
and director of the Travelers' Health Clinic at the University
of Maryland Medical Center. "When putting insect repellent on
children, use a product with a DEET concentration of no more
than 10 percent," adds Dr. Edelman. DEET was developed by the
U.S. government in the 1940's. Its chemical name is N,N-diethyl-
m-toluamide. Some people worry about the toxicity of DEET.
Therefore, they may opt to use ins