Stay Safe From Harmful Plants and Insects This Summer

Summer time is right here and so are our favourite out of doors actions. When spending time within the nice open air, it’s essential to take all the mandatory precautions, together with defending oneself from dangerous vegetation and bugs. Under, Nikki Pham, MD, a Household Medication doctor with Dignity Well being Mercy Medical Group, shares recommendations on the best way to safely benefit from the open air this summer season.

Insect Security
Insect bites will not be solely pesky, however can carry an infection and illness. Dr. Pham warns that sure insect bites can result in well being issues if left untreated.

In line with the CDC, Lyme illness is usually at its highest transmission charges through the summer season months and is brought on by micro organism carried via tick bites. Ticks can connect to any a part of the human physique however are sometimes present in hard-to-see areas such because the groin, armpits, and scalp.

“The earlier the tick might be eliminated the higher,” says Dr. Pham. “The longer it’s connected, the upper the chance of contracting Lyme illness.”

Adults and kids with tick bites can usually be handled with a one-time dose of antibiotics inside 72 hours of the tick chew to forestall Lyme illness from growing.

Early indicators of Lyme illness to be careful for embrace fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a round rash on the web site of the tick chew.

For those who occur to be bitten by a tick if you are touring or far out of your Dignity Well being doctor, you may contemplate a digital go to. By means of video visits, your physician can digitally reply questions and even prescribe treatment, permitting you to get the care you want wherever you might be.

Happily, Lyme illness might be prevented by taking precautionary measures like avoiding wooded and brushy areas with excessive grass, spraying garments and kit with bug spray containing 0.5% permethrin and analyzing your self, your clothes and your pets for the presence of ticks after being open air.

Plant Security
Poison oak is among the most typical vegetation to trigger allergic reactions, in line with Dr. Pham. Others can embrace poison ivy and poison sumac, which might all trigger a purple, blistering rash that seems on the pores and skin inside a number of days of contact. The CDC has a visible information from the CDC to assist determine vegetation that must be averted.

If somebody suspects that they’re having an allergic response to a plant, Dr. Pham advises in search of medical care and washing the realm instantly. Therapies for publicity to toxic vegetation can embrace topically making use of calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to scale back itching and blistering, along with over-the-counter treatment like Benadryl to assist relieve itching.