Comparative Study of the Insect Repellency Action of Over-the-Counter Herbal Insect Repellent Lotions Against 7.5% DEET Lotion

The document presents a comparative study on the insect repellency action of over-the-counter herbal insect repellent lotions against 7.5% DEET lotion. The study involved 69 participants and tested the efficacy of rosemary, citronella, and lemongrass lotions compared to 7.5% DEET lotion by applying them on different forearms and counting the number of Aedes aegypti mosquito bites/landings over an eight-hour period. The results showed that 7.5% DEET lotion was significantly more effective than the botanical insect repellents, with a P < .01, indicating fewer mosquito bites/landings. No adverse skin reactions were observed in any of the treatment groups. The study concluded that 7.5% DEET lotion is a superior and safe insect repellent compared to the tested botanical lotions, which did not provide protection against mosquito bites during the observation period. This finding is important for selecting effective repellents to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.