Topical insect repellents in pediatrics: toxicology and safety aspects
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Abstract
The growing interest in preventive measures against arboviruses, motivated by the possible serious consequences of many of them, from conception to adolescence, has made it mandatory for pediatricians to have minimal knowledge about the use and toxicity of skin repellents. Through a search on the MEDLINE-Bireme platform, of the most relevant articles in the last 22 years (1998 2020) in relation to clinical use, side and toxicological effects of skin repellents, 65 articles were selected, of which 11 served as the basis for this article. This study aims to analyze, in a practical way, the main compounds present in several insect repellents in the Brazilian market, their toxicological aspects and guidelines regarding the appropriate use in the pediatric population. It concludes that it is important to use them correctly, avoiding excessive exposure and accidental ingestion. The use of combined methods, in many cases, can offer greater protection with less toxicological risk.
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