Assessment of use of lavender lotion as repellent for protection against sand fly bites in endemic area with visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Sudan

Abstract

This study was an epidemiological study regarding the prevalence of visceral leishmaniaisis among first year students (as new comers) in Gadarif University, Eastern of Sudan, in 2013. It was conducted to evaluate the use, efficacy and comfortability of the use of commercial lavender lotion as vector control tool among group of 10 students from first year (5 male and 5 female). Health education regarding use of repellents and sand flies was put into operation in the end of the rainy season before the start of the study. The repellents used in this study were commercial lavender lotion which was made from the essential oil extracted from the fresh flowers of the lavender plant, also known as insect repellent. The field evaluation showed protection up to mean time for 7 h and 40 min against the species. Application of commercial lavender lotion can be safe and low-cost means of personal protection against sand fly bites in endemic areas of Gadarif, if the community is advised and encouraged to use it. Significant correlations between post leishmanin skin test results and using of repellents has been reported (p = 0.001).\r\r\t \r\r\tKey words: Lavender lotion, Gadarif State, repellents, Phlebotomus orientalis, leishmaniasis, vector, epidemiology, efficacy.