How to protect yourself from ticks with Reftamide Anti-Tick aerosol

To protect against ticks that carry encephalitis and other dangerous diseases, use Reftamide Anti-Tick aerosol. Its action is aimed at killing the parasites.

Reftamide Antikleshch: Pros and Cons

An acaricidal agent designed to protect people from ixodid ticks. Parasites are dangerous because they carry pathogens that cause encephalitis, borreliosis, typhus, and other diseases, which in some cases lead to disability and death. To prevent a bite and illness, simply spray all clothing and shoes with this aerosol. It has a nerve-paralytic effect. Upon contact, the parasite receives a dose of the toxic substance sufficient to cause disorientation. Within two minutes, the tick's limbs are paralyzed and it detaches from its belongings, and within five minutes, it dies.

Reftamide Antikleshch is applied only to clothing, footwear and fabric items.

Advantages of aerosol:

• easy application - just treat all clothing that a person plans to wear while visiting areas with a high risk of tick bites;
• availability - the cost of drugs is 120-180 rubles, they are sold in pharmacies and other retail outlets;
• Efficiency - the composition of the preparations, when used correctly, guarantees protection against blood-sucking parasites for the entire period specified in the instructions.

The drug also has some disadvantages:

• Not suitable for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, but their clothes can be handled by other people;
• Toxicity: When the active component enters the body, it belongs to hazard class II, and when in contact with human skin, it belongs to hazard class III (moderately hazardous).

Composition and types of the drug

The manufacturer of the aerosol, Sibiar, produces several varieties of tick repellents, including a repellent that repels blood-sucking insects and can be applied to the skin. However, its effectiveness isn't 100%, so to protect against tick bites, use products that include the word "antiklesh" in the name. All of them are based on toxic pyrethroids alpha-cypermethrin and/or imiprothrin, so avoid contact with skin and mucous membranes. To do this, do not process items on a person, use protective gloves and a mask.

Treat your clothes with Reftamide Anti-tick when walking in areas where these parasites live to protect yourself from bites.

Reftamide Anti-taiga tick

The active ingredient, alpha-cypermethrin, has a contact and intestinal effect on the parasite, ensuring its almost instantaneous death. The product is applied to clothing and shoes from a distance of 10–20 cm, and only worn after the items are completely dry.

It is sprayed most thoroughly on the cuffs of shirts, the tops of socks and trousers, and the bottoms of pant legs, since this is where ticks can most easily reach human skin to attach themselves.

After visiting a tick-infested area, shake out your belongings and place them in a sealed bag. They should not be treated again the following day, as the protective effect lasts for 10–15 days. The spray is suitable for protection against ticks during picnics and walks in forests, parks, and other areas during tick activity.

Reftamide Antikleshch has a nerve-paralytic effect on parasites, i.e. it causes paralysis and death.

Table: composition of the aerosol Reftamide taiga

Reftamide Antikleshch Extra (enhanced)

It has a similar effect to the previous product, but has a stronger formula. It is intended for anyone planning to visit areas with high parasite infestations, especially those who regularly do so for work, such as foresters or geologists.

Reftamide Antikleshch is applied only to clothing, avoiding contact with skin and mucous membranes.

Table: composition of the drug Reftamide Antikleshch Extra

Contact with the active substance in the aerosol disrupts the insects' nervous system. This leads to increased release of acetylcholine, severe agitation, and subsequent poisoning, paralysis, and death of the parasite.

Table: Description of the substances included in Reftamide

Instructions for use

Apply the aerosol only to clothing. Use at ambient temperatures above 10°C. Directions:

1. Prepare clothes and shoes that you plan to wear when going to the forest or park: a shirt or sweater with long sleeves, trousers, high boots, and a hat.
2. Choose a suitable place to process items, either outside (protected from the wind) or indoors – a ventilated living space, balcony.
3. For safety, wear gloves and a mask.
4. Lay out or hang up things.
5. Shake the aerosol can.
6. Spray the product onto clothing and shoes from a distance of approximately 20 cm. Hold the can at arm's length. Spray each item for no more than 2 minutes.
7. Dry the clothes before using.
8. Wash your hands.

Fabric items and clothing should not be re-treated earlier than after 10 days, as the manufacturer's stated protection period for the product is 10 to 15 days, provided the items are stored in a sealed plastic bag. The maximum consumption of the product is one cylinder per day per person.

If the storage conditions of the drug or the method of application are not met, the risk of tick attachment increases.

Precautionary measures

To avoid dangerous consequences of a bite without harming your health, take precautions when using chemicals:

• Do not spray near fire, do not smoke, do not expose to heat or direct sunlight;
• Do not disassemble the aerosol can;
• Do not use the spray in the presence of children and do not give it to them; it is also better to remove pets from the room;
• Observe the temperature conditions and storage periods indicated on the cylinder;
• treat clothes outdoors, for example on a balcony;
• Before applying the chemical, be sure to remove any items;
• Do not allow the product to come into contact with skin or mucous membranes, do not inhale it;
• Wear acaricide-treated clothing only over underwear.

Contraindications and possible side effects

This product is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or children. People with sensitive skin should exercise particular caution when spraying. Even minor contact with skin causes allergic reactions and pain. It is important to quickly wash off the preparation with water.

If chemical vapors are inhaled or come into contact with skin, the following side effects may occur:

• convulsions, trembling of the limbs;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• increased lacrimation and salivation.

First aid for poisoning:

1. Take the victim out into the air.
2. Give plenty of water to drink and take activated charcoal (if swallowed).
3. Wash eyes and skin with plenty of water and soap.

If symptoms of poisoning occur, seek medical attention.

Reviews of the use of the repellent

I bought the Reftamide Anti-Tick Taiga insect repellent last year because I walked from kindergarten to the city and was constantly picking up ticks, especially in the spring. I bought it for 50 rubles at the market and started using it. You spray it on your clothes, as I did according to the instructions, avoiding contact with eyes at a distance of 10-15 centimeters. What surprised me and worried me was the smell. I didn't test it right away at the market, thinking it would smell like something out of place, but I was wrong. It has a pleasant pine scent, which, by the way, doesn't linger very long; it's no longer noticeable by the time I get to the city. Now about the ticks themselves: since I got this spray, I've stopped catching ticks and bringing them home. By the way, I use it very economically, I continue to use it this year, I think I will have enough for next year and still have some left over, it’s a pity that its shelf life is only 3 years.

The product works perfectly; if a tick lands on treated clothing, it's dead. It crawls upward, seemingly stumbling, sometimes sliding down half a millimeter, then lifts its front legs and falls off, belly up. What's also particularly important is the product's long-lasting effect; my ticks died at least 10 days after treatment. It's true that it's not effective against other crawling and flying enemies, but what can you do—it's a very specialized product. Taiga Reftamide is my reliable companion on forest hikes!

We've used this product several times, going mushroom and berry picking while using the acaricidal product Reftamide "Antikleshch." There were no tick infestations during our time in the forest, and we'll continue to use it.

I recommend a reliable aerosol product called "Reftamide-Taiga Anti-Tick." What's convenient for me is that it's sprayed on my clothes before heading into the forest, meaning it doesn't touch my skin, which is important for people with allergies and asthma. When a tick comes into contact with Raftamide-treated clothing, it paralyzes itself and dies. The aerosol is inexpensive, making it affordable even for those on a budget. It's available in pharmacies and specialty hardware stores.

I put the Reftamide in my backpack and set out, figuring I'd use it when I got closer to the forest. So I did—as I approached a birch grove, I took out the can, shook it, and started spraying it on my clothes. It had a terrific smell! That's where I made a mistake... It would have been a success, if not for one thing: my skin was burning. It started some time after the Reftamide treatment... Even when I returned home and washed my face, I only felt temporary relief. Not a single menthol lotion could cool my burning skin.

Wherever the Reftamide drops landed, my skin burned until the next morning. It was only after I got home that it occurred to me to read the ingredients and instructions on the package. I shouldn't have believed my grandmother that the spray was completely safe. Maybe her skin, roughened by constant sun exposure, really wasn't affected by it. But the package warns against allowing the aerosol particles to come into contact with exposed skin. Why didn't I check that before?!

The "Antikleshch" label has been verified. I didn't find a single tick on myself. The other insects, however, didn't bother me too much. Yes, they swarmed around me in a buzzing cloud, but the dense halo of Reftamide kept them at bay. So, this product's effectiveness has been proven. Still, I think this product is too aggressive. This could be considered a plus, but it's the most readily available in stores. It's inexpensive and available almost everywhere. But I dread to even imagine how toxic Reftamide contains, how a small amount of it could cause such long-lasting discomfort on the skin. Of course, the manufacturer warns about this, but the information is very sparsely written in small black font on a green background. It's very difficult to read. I wouldn't be surprised if this very circumstance has prevented others from carefully reading the instructions. So, here's my advice: first, read the instructions carefully. Secondly, choose a safer insect repellent.

When used as directed, Reftamide Antikleshch will provide long-term protection against blood-sucking parasites. Remember to take precautions to protect yourself from any unpleasant consequences.