Newswise — Summer is a time when people need to think about bug bites that carry potentially harmful illnesses " like West Nile Virus in mosquitoes, and Lyme Disease and other more dangerous diseases in ticks. In fact, August officially begins the peak season for bug bites.
Dr. Dirk M. Elston, a dermatologist with Pennsylvania's Geisinger Health System, offered the following tips on prevention and treatment of common summer bug bites at ACADEMY '03, the American Academy of Dermatology's summer scientific meeting in Chicago, Ill.
PREVENTION TIPS:
The key to preventing such things as West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease is protection from being bitten. Dr. Elston recommends the following practical tips:
* Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside * Stay indoors at dawn and dusk (when mosquitoes and other insects are most active) * Remove standing water in yards and clean out clogged gutters, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other bugs * Install or repair window and door screens so that insects cannot get indoors. * Before going outdoors, it is important to use insect repellents on the skin and clothing to be completely protected against bug bites. The active ingredient in most commercial agents is either the insecticide permethrin or the chemical repellent DEET.
TREATMENT TIPS:
If an insect flies through your defenses and leaves a bite, Dr. Elston reports the best treatment method is to apply ice or products containing camphor or menthol to the affected area in order to reduce itch. The average insect bite is harmless and may leave a small red mark or bump that will disappear within a week. Persistent itch can also be treated with prescription-strength cortisone products.
"If your bug bite lingers and a rash develops, or if you experience a fever, headache, episodes of joint pain, dizziness or fatigue following an arthropod bite, it is important to consult a dermatologist or other appropriately trained physician immediately in order to rule out a potentially serious condition," said Elston.
Geisinger is a comprehensive, physician-led health care system consisting of a tertiary medical center with the nation's first rural children's hospital, an adult and pediatric trauma center, a community and secondary referral medical center, a nationally acclaimed alcohol and chemical dependency treatment center, heart institute, cancer institute, neuro-sciences program, 42 community practice offices and one of the largest not-for-profit rural HMOs in the country.
RSS