Summer time is right here and so are our favourite outside actions. When spending time within the nice open air, it’s vital to take all the required precautions, together with defending oneself from dangerous crops and bugs. Beneath, Nikki Pham, MD, a Household Medication doctor with Dignity Well being Mercy Medical Group, shares recommendations on the right way to safely benefit from the open air this summer time.

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

In keeping with the CDC, Lyme disease is usually at its highest transmission charges throughout the summer time months and is brought on by micro organism carried by way of 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 could be eliminated the higher,” says Dr. Pham. “The longer it’s hooked up, the upper the danger 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 chunk to stop Lyme illness from creating.

Early signs of Lyme disease to be careful for embody fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a round rash on the web site of the tick chunk.

When you occur to be bitten by a tick when you are touring or far out of your Dignity Well being doctor, you may think about a virtual visit. By video visits, your physician can digitally reply questions and even prescribe treatment, permitting you to get the care you want wherever you’re.

Thankfully, Lyme illness could 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 inspecting your self, your clothes and your pets for the presence of ticks after being open air.

Plant Security
Poison oak is without doubt one of the commonest crops to trigger allergic reactions, based on Dr. Pham. Others can embody poison ivy and poison sumac, which might all trigger a crimson, blistering rash that seems on the pores and skin inside just a few days of contact. The CDC has a visual guide from the CDC to assist establish crops that ought to be prevented.

If somebody suspects that they’re having an allergic response to a plant, Dr. Pham advises looking for medical care and washing the realm instantly. Therapies for publicity to toxic crops can embody 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.