**A properly used DEET or picaridin repellent is a reasonable choice for children when dengue is a concern.** “Natural” ingredients are not automatically safer, and you have more options than DEET versus citronella.

DEET has been extensively reviewed. The US Environmental Protection Agency concludes that normal use according to the label does not present a health concern, including for children. Skin irritation can occasionally occur. [EPA’s DEET review](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet)

When buying, look at the **active ingredient, concentration, age restrictions and protection time**, rather than claims such as “natural” or “for kids”:

- **Picaridin, also called icaridin:** an effective alternative to DEET. A 20% product is a practical option for several hours of protection, provided its label permits use at your child’s age.
- **DEET:** 10–30% products are commonly recommended for children older than two months. Higher concentrations mainly extend protection time; roughly, 10% gives about two hours and 30% about five hours. Follow local age restrictions, which can differ between countries.
- **Oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD:** an effective ingredient in formulated repellents, but avoid it in children under three. It is different from plain eucalyptus essential oil.
- **Citronella and other essential-oil products:** protection is often short-lived or less well established. I would not rely on them alone where dengue is a risk.

These recommendations come from the [American Academy of Pediatrics](https://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/at-play/pages/insect-repellents.aspx) and [CDC guidance](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html). Choose a product approved by your country’s regulator; in the US, look for EPA registration.

The claim that **inhaling citronella causes lung cancer in people is not established** by the evidence reviewed by the National Pesticide Information Center. It notes limited cancer research on the whole oil and animal findings involving one minor constituent—those do not establish that ordinary citronella use causes human lung cancer. Citronella can, however, irritate skin or cause allergies. [Citronella fact sheet](https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/citronellagen.html)

Use repellent carefully: an adult should apply it to exposed skin, avoiding children’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts and irritated areas. Apply it to your hands first when treating their face; avoid spraying in enclosed rooms or underneath clothing. Reapply only as the label directs, and wash it off when protection is no longer needed. For babies under two months, use clothing and mosquito netting as the first approach. [EPA application advice](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet), [CDC infant guidance](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/children/indonesia)

For your house, combine repellent with physical protection:

- Install or repair window and door screens, keep doors closed, and use air conditioning if available.
- Use long sleeves, trousers and mosquito netting over strollers or carriers.
- Weekly, empty **and scrub** water-holding items, including flowerpot saucers, vases, buckets and toys.
- If mosquitoes persist, contact local mosquito control or a pest-control professional.

Mosquitoes can enter from outside even when your own home has no breeding sites. [CDC home-control advice](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/mosquito-control-at-home.html/)

Finally, **protect against bites during the day too**: dengue-carrying mosquitoes commonly bite during daylight, so a nighttime bed net alone is insufficient. [CDC dengue mosquito facts](https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/31032/cdc_31032_DS1.pdf)

How old are your children, and which country are you in? That would help narrow down the appropriate label restrictions.