Summer is most definitely here and with it comes some annoying maladies or rather inconveniences. I am often asked what exactly should be done if stung by a bee or jellyfish, so this column is devoted to those summertime pests like insect bites and sunburn to help make you more prepared should any of these annoyances happen to you.
Sunburnthe most common skin injury from excessive exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays. The best treatment is to relieve the pain and discomfort by using an Aloe Vera moisture lotion after a day on the beach or a Solarcaine type preparation to relieve the sting of the burn. Rather than wait until you are too red and hot to touch, use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher applied liberally everywhere your skin is in direct contact with the sunss rays. Dont forget the upper tips of your ears, and use a lip balm to protect your lips.
Heat Strokecaused by the elevation of body temperature from excessive environmental exposure along with dehydration. Body temperature is usually highest in the late afternoon and early evening, so after a full day on the beach or on a boat, you can experience fever, rapid pulse and may experience changes in alertness which can range from feeling groggy to actual delirium. You need to get out of the sun and heat. Drink water to replenish body fluids. Take a cool shower to lower body temperature. Take two Tylenol with water. If you find that you cannot function, GET HELP. Call your MD or local health care facility for assistance and in extreme cases immediately call 911.
Insect Bitesthose nasty little buggers who sneak up upon you and try to take a piece of you with them! They leave behind a sharp prickling painful sensation at the site. A red lump or hive appears, enlarges and then subsides in a few hours. If available, just use an ice cube to reduce the swelling and sting almost immediately after being bitten. Or those very convenient sticks of Bite Away are very effective in relieving the itch. If you are like me and prone to mosquito bites, use my favorite new cologne, as I call it, OFF, or Skin so Soft which also works very well. Liberally spray yourself before heading out especially around dusk when mosquitoes love to come and dine on you.
Bee & Wasp Stingshoneybees, bumblebees, wasps, hornets and yellow-jackets embed a firm, sharp stinger in the skin and venom is secreted. The injected venoms are proteins with an enzyme activity that can cause a local or general reaction or both. Allergic reactions begin quickly (within minutes) and can last hours. For those of you who know that you are not allergic to bee stings, the easiest treatment is to cleanse the sting with soap and water and then apply an iced ammonia compress right on the site for as long as needed to reduce the swelling and remove the itchiness.
You may also need to apply an antihistamine cream like Benadryl to the sting site at night. If you know that you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, seek immediate medical attention to prevent wheezing or upper airway obstruction from internal swelling.
Spider Bitesof the 50 or so species of spiders known to bite humans, the brown recluse spider is one of two species in the USA capable of producing severe reactions (the black widow spider is the other). A brown recluse spider is small, light brown and lives in dark areas like the closet or under porches or in the basement. Spider bites can cause local reactions but do not cause severe allergic reactions. The bite produces a sharp pain at the site of the bite with subsequent minor swelling and redness. The severity of the reaction depends on where the bite isareas on the body with more fat deposits tend to react more severely. Skin changes at the bite site include a blue/gray, round halo around the puncture site which evolves into a raised lump which can widen, and the center of the bite actually sinks and the skin sloughs off. It may actually take weeks or months for this area to heal. Apply ice immediately and elevate the limb if bitten on an arm or leg. Avoid strenuous exercise; DO NOT APPLY HEAT. Seek medical attention if you need a tetanus shot and antibiotics to speed healing and reduce the risk of a secondary infection
Jelly Fish Stingsthe best treatment, as explained to me by an ER physician, is Adolphs meat tenderizer made into a paste. Apply right on the sting and leave it there until it dries. I have also heard of a home remedy of a similar paste made out of tobaccowhich is convenient if you are at the beach and find yourself without meat tenderizer.
In any event, take a little extra care of yourself during these next few months so that you can have an absolutely fabulous summer.
Susan Giove is a Professor at Wilmington College and a certified Adult Nurse Practitioner. Any questions, contact CAMP Nurse in care of Camp Rehoboth.
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7/11/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.