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By Diane Griffith, HealthAtoZ writer
With all the good times the summer season has to offer, Mother Nature still tries to spoil our fun with those pesky insects, poisonous plants and stinging sea creatures. Here's a guide to thwarting the itching, stinging and burning that come with summer.
Poisonous plants
The popular saying, "Leaves of three, let them be" helps identify poison oak and poison ivy, but this little ditty fails to acknowledge poison sumac, which has seven leaves and is just as bothersome.
There's an oil, urushiol, found in the sap of these plants that sets off the rash (rhus dermatitis) after contact with the skin.
Prevention of rash
If you're planning a hike in the woods, you can purchase a skin cream called IvyBlock® that prevents urushiol from getting on your skin. In spite of the summer heat, you should cover up as much as you can with long sleeves and long pants.
If you do touch a poisonous plant, clean the area with soap and water immediately. Alcohol wipes are available that help remove oils. Wash all clothes and items that may have touched the sap. If a rash develops, taking cool showers and oatmeal or baking soda baths, and applying calamine lotion to the area may help relieve some of the itch. Contact your doctor if the rash becomes severe, or is near your eyes or genital area. A non-prescription medicine, Zanfel® can be applied after exposure. This medicine binds the urushiol and helps remove it from the skin.
Mosquitoes and Bees
You can't escape mosquito bites and bee stings altogether, but you can reduce your risks by taking these precautions:
- Wear light-colored clothing. Insects are attracted to bright pastels, flowery prints and dark colors.
- Leave the perfumes, lotions and scented hair products at home; they attract insects.
- Avoid brushing against plants, bushes and vegetation.
- Don't swat at buzzing insects. They will sting if they feel threatened.
Use insect repellents containing DEET. If DEET is not listed on the label as an ingredient, look for the chemical name (N, N-Diethyl-m-toluamide). Follow the package directions closely. DEET can be toxic if used improperly, and should not be used on children under 2 months of age.
Unfortunately, insect repellents do not protect against stinging insects, such as bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets.
Mosquitoes
Empty out puddles of stagnant water near your home because these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes also dwell in your lawn, so keep the grass short.
Many people are concerned about mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus, but less than 1 percent of mosquitoes actually carry the virus, and less than 1 percent of infected humans become seriously ill. St. Louis encephalitis is another disease caused by infected mosquitoes in the United States. There are an average of 128 cases reported per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those at increased risk include the elderly, people living in crowded, low-income areas and those working outdoors in those areas. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck and convulsions. If any of these symptoms occurs, seek medical attention immediately.
To treat a mosquito bite, wash it using soap and warm water. If itching is severe, a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream may help. Avoid scratching, which can cause infection.
Bee stings
A bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket sting injects poison into the skin. For some, this can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. Most reactions are minor, though, causing red, swollen, itchy skin.
If a bee or wasp flies near you, stand still or move away slowly. Rapid movement often provokes attack. Do not crush a bee or wasp. An "alarm pheromone" can be released into the air, causing nearby wasps to attack.
If you've been stung by a bee and the stinger remains in your skin, scrape the area gently with a credit card, ruler or butter knife as soon as possible. Don't try removing it with tweezers, which will release more venom into your body. Wash the wound, elevate and apply an ice pack. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or blood vessel disorders, such as vasculitis or Raynaud's disease, talk with a health professional before using an ice pack.
To relieve itching, treat the wound with a paste made from baking soda or meat tenderizer and water. For wasp stings, vinegar or lemon juice may help relieve the sting.
If shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling, hives, nausea, vomiting, or fever occurs, call 911. If you have an emergenccy epinephrine kit, use it as instructed.
Deer Ticks
Deer ticks are insects that spread Lyme disease. They are found in woods with a thick undergrowth of shrubs and small trees 85 percent of the time. Some things you can do to help prevent getting a tick bite:
- Wear light-colored clothing (makes it easier to see a tick)
- Wear long pants tucked into socks
- Avoid tall grass and shrubby areas
- Wear a tick repellent
Ticks feed on blood and must feed for at least 12 to 24 hours in order to transmit the disease. For this reason it is important to be able to recognize them and take them off as soon as you can. Take a shower after being outdoors and inspect your body for ticks. If you see one, remove it with tweezers only (bent, "needle-nose" tweezers are best).
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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