Diethyltoluamide (DEET) is the common active ingredient in many insect repellent products. It is widely used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks. Every year, DEET formulations are used to protect populations from mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus, the Zika virus, malaria, and/or tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. And, despite concerns over excessive exposure to the chemical, appropriate usage of the chemical at the recommended dosages and routes of administration have generally proven to be safe - even when most DEET products are largely designed to be applied directly to human skin, where the exact mechanisms of actions in which DEET is capable of repelling insects and causing toxicity to humans is still not fully elucidated.
Synonyms
N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide
diethyl toluamide
dietiltoluamida
Diethyltoluamide
diethyltoluamidum
3-methyl-N,N-diethylbenzamide
DEET
diéthyltoluamide
Brand Names
Sunsect Insect Repellent Sunscreen
Mosquito Bug Off
Mosquite Bug Off
Insect Repellent Insect Block
Croc Bloc Combinator SPF 15
Indication
Diethyltoluamide, or DEET, is an active ingredient that is predominantly indicated for as an insect repellant used to repel biting pests like mosquitoes and ticks [L2774]. Products containing DEET currently are available to the public in a variety of liquids, lotions, sprays, and impregnated materials like towelettes or roll-ons [L2774].
Categories
Acids, Carbocyclic
Agrochemicals
Amides
Antiparasitic Products, Insecticides and Repellents
Benzamides and benzamide derivatives
Benzene Derivatives
Benzoates
Compounds used in a research, industrial, or household setting
Ectoparasiticides, Incl. Scabicides, Insecticides and Repellents
