[Evaluation of the use of repellent against mosquito bite by military personnel in the Amazon Basin].
BACKGROUND
In Brazil, diseases caused by insect bites are frequent. Therefore, it is extremely important that prophylatic measures are adequately carried out, especially in endemic areas such as the Amazon which receives a great number of visitors, for both business and tourism purposes..


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of insect repellents available in the market by military personnel who often go in missions in the middle of the jungle, in the Amazon region.


METHODS
Fifty - one militaries in the Amazon region were selected and they answered a questionnaire in June/2008.


RESULTS
63,7% of the militaries used products that contained Deet in the maximum concentration of only 15% that has minimum repellent action; 36% reported to combine these products with sun protective products which increased the risk of intoxication; 36,4% used a natural repellent during their missions; two of the militaries participants used vitamin B and considered their repellent action ineffective.


CONCLUSIONS
The repellents that contain Deet and which were used by the group present concentrations that are lower than the concentrations considered safe for using in the jungle. It was frequent the combination of Deet with sun protective products ,which is a potentially toxic association. Natural repellents that have "andiroba" and" copaíba" as components presented a higher perception of protection from the participants.
Ribas
Jonas
J
Universidade Federal do Amazonas, AM, Brasil. ribas@internext.com.br <ribas@internext.com.br>
Carreño
Ana Maria
AM
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009033:Culicidae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007302:Insect Repellents; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D007302:Insect Repellents