AM I ALLERGIC TO A MOSQUITO NET?

Dear Doctor: I sleep under a mosquito net every day. However, I feel suffocated. I am opting to sleeping without it. What is causing this? Can I take something to stop this so that I can fully prevent malaria? Will this affect the baby I am expecting? — Ethan

Dear Ethan: Pyrethroid insecticides, recommended for treatment of mosquito nets, are relatively non-toxic to humans though a few people may suffer a runny nose, headaches and minor difficulties in breathing when treatment has just been done. It is likely you do not suffer net bad effects during the day because the day naps are short and therefore exposure also short. It is likely that the drop in temperature in the evening may concentrate the breathed in insecticide apart from acting as a trigger of allergies if one has them.
Untreated mosquito nets offer a physical barrier to mosquitoes and flies but when the body leans against the net, it is exposed to bites.