home | staying safe & healthy

mosquitoes | dengue fever | japanese encephalitis (JE) | malaria
managing fevers | dehydration | diarrhoea

Tropical Climate Concerns

Mosquitoes

A potential dangerous insect because of it's disease carrying capabilities and for some a daily annoyance in Indonesia.

How can I stop being bitten by mosquitoes?

• Mosquitoes don't like cold so keeping your air conditioning on will help to discourage them from hanging around your house.
• Use mosquito repellent when outdoors. Choose one that contains the chemical DEET or natural repellents that contain citronella or eucalyptus are also effective.
• A mosquito net over your and your children's beds will help prevent bites but be careful to check that none get trapped inside the net!
• Wearing long sleeves and cover legs, wear light coloured clothes and avoid wearing perfumes will also help reduce the chances of being bitten.
• When choosing your housing you may want to avoid areas where mosquitoes love i.e. standing water in ponds, rivers etc. Around the house try and get rid of any areas where water collects. Make sure that any empty containers, plant pots, boxes etc are emptied daily or cleaned away.
• Have your garden treated regularly by a pest control company, they will 'fog' your garden which helps to control mosquito numbers.
• Remember to close doors and windows that don't have mosquito screens fitted or have these screens fitted if you like to have windows open.

Keeping ponds mosquito free

• Abate is a local product available in most hardware stores which your gardener can put into the water to kill off the eggs and it doesn't harm the fish.
  
• Clean ponds or water features weekly to kill of mosquito eggs.

Can insect repellents be used on children?

Since it is the most widely available repellent, many people ask about the use of products containing DEET on children. No definitive studies exist in scientific literature about what concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has been linked to the use of DEET in children when used according to manufacturer's recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their recommendation for use of DEET products on children in 2003 citing; "Insect repellents containing DEET with a concentration of 10% appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on the product labels." They do recommend however, that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old.

Oil of lemon or eucalyptus products should NOT be used on children UNDER 3 YEARS OLD.

Parents should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used by taking into account the amount of time that a child will be outdoors, exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases in the area.

What guidelines are available for using repellent on children?

• Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when using a repellent.
  
• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears.
  
• Do not apply repellent to children's hands as they tend to put their hands in their mouths.
  
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves, have an adult do it for them.
  
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
  
• Do not apply repellent under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again.

Also see AWA's publication Introducing Indonesia:A Guide to Expat Living which details more information.

Mosquito creams, sprays and aroma therapy

You can buy a variety of sprays, burning coils and plug-ins for your house in most supermarkets and pharmacies along with sprays and creams for your skin.

Caswell's Mom's
Sells Cactus Juice, a DEET free, natural insect repellent.

Jl. Kemang Timur Raya 25A, Kemang
Tel: 021 719 0280

• 08:00-19:00 Mon-Sat
• 09:00-19:00 Sun
• All major credit cards accepted

Chic Mart
Sells citronella candles and oil for outdoor use.

Jl Kemang Raya No.55, Kemang
Tel: 021 719 7813

• 09:00-19:00 Mon-Sat
• 10:00-17:00 Sun
• All major credit cards accepted

Jakarta Women and Children Clinic
Sells a range of mosquito repellents and patches to stick onto clothing.

Jl Prapanca Raya No.32A, Jakarta Selatan
Tel: 021 7279 9911

• 08:00-20:00 Mon-Fri
• 08:00-14:00 Sat
• All major credit cards accepted

Some alternative products available in Jakarta are;

JICC
Sells Cactus Juice.

Jl Kemang Dalam X E6A, Jakarta Selatan
Tel: 021 7179 2813 / 021 719 2216
www.jicconline.com

• 09:00-17:00 Weekdays
• 09:00-14:00 Sat

Mahakam Baby Shop
Upstairs, they sell the Moz Away repellent spray that is natural and safe to use on babies and children.

Jl Mahakam 11/2, Kebayoran Baru
Tel: 021 724 7108

• 08:00-22:00 Mon-Sat
• 09:00-21:00 Sun
• All major credit cards accepted

Rina Poerwadi APDHA
(Asia Pacific Diploma of Holistic Aroma therapy)
Rina specialises in holistic aroma therapy and will tailor make a natural mosquito repellent that is safe to use on babies and young children. Call to make an appointment.

Jl Benda Atas No.84 C, Jeruk Purut, Cilandak Timur, Jakarta 12560
Tel: 0818 181538
Email: rinapoer@hotmail.com

Mosquito Nets

ACE Hardware
Sells cheap and cheerful nets. Several locations around Jakarta.

Essential Bed & Bath
Sells mosquito nets for single beds.

Jl Kemang Selatan VIII/C-2, Kemang
Tel: 021 718 0877

• 08:30-20:00 everyday

Plaza Senayan
Tel: 021 572 5622

• 10:00-20:00 everyday

email: ebb-kmg@essentialbedbath.com

Pasaraya Grande
Has selection of nets for queen and king size beds, can alter for extra cost.

Jl Iskandarsyah II/2, Blok M

• 10:00-22:00 everyday

The following business will make mosquito nets to order:

Antik Indah
Jl RS Fatmawati No.77, Cipete
Tel: 021 750 8733 / 021 750 8803

• 10:00-19:00 Mon-Sat
• All major credit cards accepted.

Duta Interiors
Jl Bangka XI No.19, Kemang
Tel: 021 719 3511

• 09:00-17:00 Mon-Fri
• 09:00-16:00 Sat
• Cash only

Ojolali
Jl Kemang Timur No.6, Kemang
Tel: 021 719 7874 / 021 718 0537

• 10:00-17:00 Mon-Sat
• All major credit cards accepted.

Mosquito transmitted diseases

Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever is the main mosquito transmitted infection in Jakarta. The disease is carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which bites during the day and is characterized by it's black and white stripes. Dengue is much more common in the rainy season when pools of water are breeding areas for the mosquito. There must be no standing water inside the house that remains for 7 days or more. Instruct household staff to always empty and dry containers and to not store water. Dengue Fever is a viral infection that characteristically causes a flu-like illness with high fever, joint and muscle aches (also known as 'break bone fever'), headaches and sometimes sensitivity to light. It may also cause a skin rash. Most cases are mild and treated with fluid replacement but very occasionally severe cases can be life threatening. If you are concerned that anyone in the family has these symptoms seek medical help.

There is no vaccination for Dengue Fever.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE)

Acute Encephalitis caused by the JE virus and transmitted by the Culex Tritaeniorhynchus mosquito can progress to paralysis, seizures, coma and death. Risk for acquiring JE among most travellers to Indonesia is extremely low however the risk for an individual traveler is variable. Travel during the transmission season (May to September) and exposure in rural areas for extended periods of time are the principal factors contributing to the risk. Rural areas in Bali seem to be the most troublesome as the mosquito tends to like pigs and rice paddies.

There is no vaccination for JE.

Malaria

Jakarta, Puncak, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Medan, Surabaya and southern Bali are all considered to be malaria free. However if you are visiting the Eastern islands, including Lombok, then you should contact your health care provider to see if Malaria Prophylaxis is recommended. Wearing mosquito repellent that contains the active ingredient DEET and sleeping under a mosquito net will greatly reduce the chances of being bitten.

Managing Fevers

The above article was kindly written by Mr Lineus Hewis at Jakarta Women & Children Clinic.

For a good website with tips on managing fever in children, including information on how to administer alternating doses of Ibuprofen/Tylenol, visit http://www.ynhh.org/healthlink/pediatrics/pediatrics_7_00.html.

Fever Grades:

Low-grade: 38 - 39 °C (100.4 - 102.2 °F)
Moderate: 39 - 40 °C (102.2 - 104 °F)
High-grade: > 40 °C (> 104 °F)
Hyper pyrexia: > 42 °C (> 107.6 °F)

Normal Temperature Chart:

Dehydration

This is a serious concern for those not acclimatized to tropical conditions. The average adult should drink eight to ten glasses of water a day; pregnant and nursing mothers should drink more than this. Avoid excessive caffeine intake as it is a diuretic.

Be especially vigilant with children; don't allow them too many sugary drinks, even milk is not a viable substitute for water.

Signs of dehydration in children include: dry mouth, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for 3 hrs or more, high fever, listlessness, irritability. If you suspect that your child is dehydrated take them to your doctor immediately. Dehydration can usually be treated by drinking lots of tiny sips of fluids.

For children you can buy Pedialyte at most pharmacies. SOS usually has it in stock as well.

Diarrhoea

Loose, watery stools occurring more than 3 times a day is a common problem in the tropics that usually lasts a day or two then goes away on its own without any special treatment. Diarrhoea may be accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. Depending on the cause, a person may have a fever or bloody stools.

Diarrhoea can be dangerous in newborns and infants. In small children, severe diarrhoea lasting just a day or two can lead to dehydration. The main treatment for diarrhoea in children is re hydration. Take your child to the doctor if any of the following symptoms appear; signs of dehydration, stools containing blood or mucus, black stools, temperature above 101.4 degrees F/38.5 degrees C or no improvement in health after 24 hours.

back to top