Bug Bite Prevention for Outdoor Travel Adventures

Traveling on adventures in the great outdoors can be quite an adventure. You get to breath in the fresh air and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Of course, if you want to ensure that you don't bring any illnesses home with you, you will want to take proper precautions against bug bites. Bugs, specifically mosquitoes are the bane of every outdoor enthusiast. And regardless where you travel outdoors whether it is in the United States or abroad, you will take most of the same precautions.

If you are overseas, you run the risk of yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever and a tick borne malady called rickettsial disease. In the United States, you run the risk of West Nile virus, encephalitis, Lyme's disease and even Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These diseases are mainly found by location, but the preventative measures are the same.

To lower your chances of bug bites and disease, follow this helpful advice:

1. Cover up as much exposed skin as possible. The less accessible skin a bug has to bite on the better. If you are in a tropical warm area, wear light breathable fabrics.

2. Use a DEET based insect repellant for applying on your body. If you are headed for a more tropical destination, then Picaridin is the best choice.

3. Permethrin should be used to apply directly onto clothing, especially if you are traveling to a malaria-prone area.

4. Be sure reapply your insect repellant frequently as it does wear off.

5. If you are sleeping outdoors or in a tent, you will want to periodically spray the area with an insecticide and/or burn special insect repellant coils to deter those biting insects and bugs.

6. Sleeping in an air conditioned room like a hotel room is relatively safe. However if you are sleeping in a cabin, hut or other room with direct exposure to the outdoors, you will want to ensure that your bed is completely covered in mosquito netting that has been treated with permethrin. Inspect the netting for any rips or holes in which flying biting insects could enter.

7. Inspect your body everyday for ticks as they can be sneaky and latch on whether you walk or hike through tall grasses or not. To prevent ticks from latching onto you, do not wear open shoes. Rather, wear hiking boots or closed in shoes with long socks and pants tucked into boots.

8. Ensure your children are protected too. While high concentrations of DEET are not good for kids, they can safely tolerate concentrations of up to 50% Be sure to take all the proper precautions for them as you would for yourself. Infants under two months of age should not be exposed to any insect repellant and should be kept safe in a carrier or stroller that is completely encase in mosquito netting.

With outdoor fun and adventure, you should always wear sunscreen. But how does that factor in with your insect repellant and protecting yourself from a bug-borne disease? The basic rule is that you apply your sunscreen first and then apply the DEET based repellant. With these basic tips, you should be able to enjoy your outdoor adventure with relative confidence.

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