Category Archives: skin health

Spider bites

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Both spiders and ticks are common in our area. We’ll deal with ticks next time.

While most of their bites aren’t dangerous to most people, it’s good to be informed about different types of spiders, their bites, and diseases that might result from some of them.

Spiders use a venom to anesthetize and paralyze their tiny prey. The venom from most species is not dangerous to most humans (see below for exceptions). Watch for signs of infection and report those immediately to your pediatrician. If you are concerned that a bite is getting much larger, note the edges with a Sharpie marker so you can see if it’s continuing to grow.

The female black widow spider can be extremely poisonous to humans, sometimes even fatal. She has an hourglass shape and is dark colored with yellow or red on her abdomen. Symptoms can be severe muscle cramping and pain. Call EMS if you think someone has been bitten by a black widow spider.

The brown recluse spider is fairly common in Kentucky, and can also be fatal at times. People often don’t know they’ve been bitten until the bite starts to swell and get painful. Reactions greatly vary. Call EMS if you are concerned about a brown recluse bite.

According to this article by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), here are things to watch for after a spider bite, and a signal to call your pediatrician or EMS:
• “Tiny fang marks
• Pain
• Pain begins as a dull ache at the bite site
• Pain spreads to the surrounding muscles
• Pain moves to the abdomen, back, chest, and legs
• Blister at the bite site
• Mild swelling and a blue-gray mark at the bite surrounded by lightening of skin color
• Progressive soft tissue damage; the skin becomes dark blue and then black (necrotic).”

Wash the affected area with soap and water, and treat a bite with an ice pack (make sure you put a layer of cloth between the ice pack and the skin) Another resource for your questions about spider bites is the Poison Control Center.

As with anything, whenever you have a concern, call our office.

© MBS Writing Services, 2015, all rights reserved

Stinging insects

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Nothing quite puts a damper on outdoor fun like a sting from a bee, yellow jacket, hornet, or wasp.

Art by Corinne

Art by Corinne

While most stings, though annoying and painful, aren’t dangerous, sometimes they can be severe in certain cases.

First things first – how to avoid getting stung:

  • Check the spots where your child plays for nests of stinging insects. Nests can be in trees or bushes, on structures like houses and barns, under picnic tables or by the porch. If you see an unusual number of the same type of stinging insects in one area, it’s possible there is a nest nearby. Once you’ve located a nest, you should consider calling an exterminator. If it is a honey bee hive, locate a beekeeper who will almost certainly be interested in collecting a new hive, and who knows how to do that safely. On rare occasions you might see a honey bee swarm. This occurs when a hive has gotten too large and is in the process of dividing. Be very careful to avoid the swarm and call a beekeeper immediately.
  • Wear shoes outdoors. Even sandals or flip-flops are not good protection from stinging insects hiding in the grass.
  • Wear light-colored clothing, and don’t wear anything with a floral pattern. Bees can be attracted to that as if it were a real flower!
  • Watch what you eat outside. Insects are attracted to sweet foods and beverages and other food items like peanut butter.
  • Don’t allow your child to touch even a dead stinging insect; the stinger still contains venom.
  • As difficult as it may be, don’t swat at an insect because that may make it attack.
  • Read about these and other preventative measures in this article by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The article contains this additional warning: “If you have disturbed a nest and the insects swarm around you, curl up as tightly as you can to reduce exposed skin. Keep your face down and cover your head with your arms.”

So, what to do after a sting?

If the child or adult is highly allergic to stings, watch closely for signs of anaphylaxis. Another article by the AAP describes an anaphylactic reaction like this:

  • “A severe life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis.
  • The main symptoms are difficulty breathing and swallowing starting within 2 hours of the sting.
  • Anaphylactic reactions to bee stings occur in 4 out of 1,000 children.
  • The onset of widespread hives or facial swelling alone following a bee sting is usually an isolated symptom, not the forerunner of anaphylaxis. Your child’s doctor will decide.”

In the case of anaphylaxis, administer epinephrine in the form of an EpiPen or AUVI-Q, if available, and call 911.

More common reactions to stings are redness and swelling, pain and itching.

If the stinger is in the skin (only honeybees leave their stingers behind), scrape it out with your fingernail, or if it’s completely under the skin just leave it alone and it will be shed naturally.

Here are the AAP’s recommendations for care after a sting:

  • “Meat Tenderizer:
    • Apply a meat tenderizer-water solution on a cotton ball for 20 minutes (EXCEPTION: near the eye). This may neutralize the venom and decrease pain and swelling.
    • If not available, apply aluminum-based deodorant or a baking soda solution for 20 minutes.
  • Local Cold: For persistent pain, massage with an ice cube for 10 minutes.
  • Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen immediately for relief of pain and burning.
  • Antihistamine: If the sting becomes itchy, give a dose of Benadryl. (See Dosage chart)
  • Hydrocortisone Cream: For itching or swelling, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the sting area 3 times per day (No prescription needed).
  • Expected Course: Severe pain or burning at the site lasts 1 to 2 hours. Normal swelling from venom can increase for 24 hours following the sting. The redness can last 3 days and the swelling 7 days.
  • Call Your Doctor If:
    • Develops difficulty breathing or swallowing (mainly during the 2 hours after the sting) (call 911)
    • Redness lasts over 3 days
    • Swelling becomes huge or spreads beyond the wrist or ankle
    • Sting begins to look infected
    • Your child becomes worse
    • And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms.”

© MBS Writing Services, 2015, all rights reserved

Bug bites

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It’s summertime. Mosquitoes and other bugs are in hot pursuit of you and your family. What’s the best way to keep from being bitten? When should you be concerned about a bite?

If your kids spend any time at all outside— which they should, for the exercise and fresh air— they will be bitten from time to time. “Bugs,” of course, is not an accurate scientific term. Even so, we’re using it here as an all-inclusive word to refer to insects (mosquitoes, bees, wasps, chiggers, biting flies, etc.) and arachnids (spiders, ticks, etc.).

Most bites on most people are relatively harmless, causing irritation, itching, and redness. Different bug bites can result in different types of skin reactions, and not all people react the same. Rarely, even serious allergic reactions or illness can result.

The best medicine, as always, is prevention. Avoid times and places where mosquitoes and other biting bugs congregate.

Mosquitoes are most active around dawn and dusk. They love standing water in puddles and ponds. You are more likely to attract mosquitoes if you’re wearing dark clothing, including socks. They are attracted to your perspiration and sometimes to a scent to you may be wearing. Biting flies may be most common in wooded areas and around animals or garbage.

Repellents can be very helpful, especially against mosquitoes. However, you need to be cautious when choosing a repellent, especially for children. DEET is particularly effective against mosquitoes and some other bugs, but should be used with caution (see below). This is also true of permethrin, which is effective against ticks. Insect repellents should not be used at all on children younger than two months old.

There is terrific information in this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here is their list of do’s and don’ts when you use insect repellents:

“Dos:

  • Read the label and follow all directions and precautions.
  • Only apply insect repellents on the outside of your child’s clothing and on exposed skin. Note: Permethrin-containing products should not be applied to skin.
  • Spray repellents in open areas to avoid breathing them in.
  • Use just enough repellent to cover your child’s clothing and exposed skin. Using more doesn’t make the repellent more effective. Avoid reapplying unless needed.
  • Help apply insect repellent on young children. Supervise older children when using these products.
  • Wash your children’s skin with soap and water to remove any repellent when they return indoors, and wash their clothing before they wear it again.

   “Dont’s:

  • Never apply insect repellent to children younger than 2 months.
  • Never spray insect repellent directly onto your child’s face. Instead, spray a little on your hands first and then rub it on your child’s face. Avoid the eyes and mouth.
  • Do not spray insect repellent on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
  • Do not use products that combine DEET with sunscreen. The DEET may make the sun protection factor (SPF) less effective. These products can overexpose your child to DEET because the sunscreen needs to be reapplied often.”

To treat a bug bite, you may apply ice for a few minutes every hour or two. Calamine lotion may be applied to stop the itching. Some people also find that baking soda mixed with water decreases their itching.

When should you seek medical attention for a bug bite? If anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction, which may include difficulty breathing – see definition from the Mayo Clinic here) occurs, get to an emergency room immediately.  Sudden hives are also a cause for concern and could be a sign of anaphylaxis. Otherwise, if the bite begins to look infected, or the reddened area around it is increasing in size larger than a quarter, keep an eye on it and check with your pediatrician’s office. You can use a Sharpie to mark the edges of the red area in order to note its progression.

Next time, more about stinging insects.

© MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved, 2015

 

Sunburned!

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As the summer gets going into full swing with Independence Day weekend, days by the pool and in the backyard, and lots of sports, sun exposure is always a concern.

How do you keep your kids healthy, happy and sunburn-free while still giving them lots of time outdoors?  And when sunburn does occur, how should you treat it?

Prevention.  Check out our blog from last summer about sunscreens here.  Bottom line:  use sunscreen liberally and limit sun exposure.  You don’t have to get a sunburn to cause long-term skin damage.

Babies and toddlers.  See this detailed article from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  Very young children are especially vulnerable to sunburn and heat stroke.  Under 6 months they should be kept out of direct sunlight and in the shade as much as possible.  Use the sun cover on the stroller.  Take a canopy to the older kids’ soccer games—it’s not only a good place to put the infant, but the rest of the family can get out of the sun, too.  Be aware that reflective surfaces, like sand or the concrete around pools, can still allow for sunburn even when you’re under an umbrella or other cover, no matter what your age.

In addition to limiting time outside in the hot part of the day, here are other considerations for the very young:

  • Dress them in lightweight, light colored clothing that covers arms, legs and the head.
  • Use sunscreen on any exposed skin.  There are several types that are appropriate for tender baby skin.  Don’t ever spray directly onto the face, but into your hand first.
  • Put a brimmed hat on babies and toddlers, or spray their scalps with sunscreen.  A fully-brimmed hat can protect scalp, ears, and partially protect face and neck.

Possible skin damage.  Don’t forget that everyone, even those with darker skin, are at risk of skin damage from the sun.  Exposure over time can lead to skin cancers later.

Treatment.  Sooner or later, most everyone will have a sunburn no matter how hard you try to prevent it.  What to do?  It depends on the severity.

  • Minor burns (red, warm to the touch) can be treated with cool compresses, acetaminophen and rest.
  • More serious burns can cause blisters, fever and chills, headache or other feelings of malaise, even infection.  If the burn is very serious, call your pediatrician.

So, by all means enjoy the summer sun, just be careful of getting too much exposure!

© 2014, MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved

Tanning beds?

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Checking the thermometer—or even looking out the window—in Central Kentucky this week, it’s hard to believe that spring break is just around the corner. Many people will be heading south for a little sun and warmth.  Others are just dreaming of summer days here, with days by the pool or sunbathing in the back yard.  And still others are imagining prom pictures and how they’ll look in that special dress or tux.

Whether preparing for a trip south, wanting to look your best or thinking ahead to summer, lots of people turn to tanning beds for a “base tan” in March and April.

In Kentucky’s current legislative session a physician has introduced a bill banning the use of tanning beds in the state by anyone under the age of 18.  It’s a bill we support, and here’s why:

  • Indoor tanning (tanning beds) is associated with an increased incidence of skin cancers, including melanoma (the most dangerous kind).
  • The use of indoor tanning has increased among teens, especially girls, in recent years.
  • Depending on the particular tanning bed used, you may receive up to 15 times the UVA rays that you would receive from exposure to midday summer sun.
  • Tanning has cumulative effects.  The more sunburns, and even tanning, your body receives over the years increases the odds you will develop skin cancers.  Tanning also causes premature skin aging and damages all the layers of the skin.

A tan does not make you more healthy; the facts support the opposite—tanning causes long-term damage.

So, don’t allow or encourage your teens to use tanning beds.  Read more from the American Academy of Pediatrics here.

 

© 2014 MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved