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Home remedies do not help prevent dengue fever, experts warn
Brasilia - To escape the bite of the mosquito Aedes aegypti , which transmits dengue, many people resort to homemade recipes that circulate on the Internet or tips from friends. Experts warn that the alternative recommendations do not help prevent the disease.
Eat garlic, onions, yams, taking vitamin C, tea, clove India Andiroba candle or light are some of the recipes. But nothing prevents a person from being targeted by mosquito bites, say researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). In the food, for example, the person would have to consume large quantities to release the smell of the substances in sweat and divert attention from the mosquito, the researchers explain.
Another recommendation is to pass repellent on the skin. According to the epidemiologist and director of the Institute of Pediatrics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Edimilson Migowski, some products can ward off mosquitoes. However, the professor warns that repellents act, on average, three hours and can not be passed in the body at all times.
"During a part of the day, you'll be discovered," he says. The mosquito is diurnal and prefer to feed at dawn or dusk. You can also bite people at night.
The Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Jarbas Barbosa, also does not indicate the homemade recipes. "It has proven efficacy and causes people not to adopt effective measures."
Jarbas Barbosa emphasizes the adoption of habits within the home to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Among them, cap the water tank, unclog the gutters, take water from the air conditioner trays and saucers of potted plants and place the screen in private drains and little used - that accumulate standing water, mosquito's favorite places to deposit the eggs.
Making this survey at home and in the office at least once a week is enough, said the secretary. From egg to adulthood, the life cycle of Aedes aegypti takes 7 to 10 days.
"When you throw out standing water eliminates 60 to 100 mosquito larvae. No other measure will prevent [the appearance] of so many mosquitoes at once, "added Professor Edimilson Migowski.
A survey released by the ministry shows that 48 counties are at risk of outbreak of dengue fever this summer. In each city , teams of health mosquito larvae found in more than 3.9% of the houses visited, considered alarming rate.
The spread of dengue mosquito increases in summer due to high temperature and rains that increase the number of sites with stagnant water and facilitate the deposition of insect eggs.