SANFORD HEALTH MAGAZINE 3
HEALTH IN FOCUS TIPS TO KNOW ABOUT BUG BITES With summer under way, we will be spending more time outdoors with our families and friends. Of course, in North Dakota, that usually means pesky bites from mosquitoes and other insects. Prevention To help avoid insect bites, use insect repellent that contains ingredients registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—an EPA registration number should be on the product label. Spray the repellent on clothes or skin, but avoid spraying it on your face. Make sure products used on children have no more than 10 percent DEET. Do not use repellent with DEET on babies under 2 months. Avoid putting repellent on children’s faces, hands and areas where they may have cuts, and wash the repellent off with soap and water after returning indoors. When using repellent and sunscreen, apply the sunscreen first. Krissondra Klop, DO Family Medicine Sanford South Clinic Bismarck
After a bite: reducing discomfort Most reactions are minimal, causing itching and mild swelling that goes away in a day or two. If needed, use ice or an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. You also can use hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or baking soda paste—all available over the counter—on the bite to reduce itching. If stung by a bee or wasp, remove the stinger if it is stuck in the skin, and wash the area with soap and water. After a bite: When to seek further help Typically, bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are most likely to cause stronger reactions. If you experience nausea and intestinal cramps, fever, hives, painful joints, diarrhea or significant swelling, call your doctor. Symptoms of a severe reaction may include nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, facial or throat swelling, limbs that swell or turn blue and circulation problems related to your body going into shock. Go immediately to the nearest emergency department if you begin developing any of these conditions. If you are with someone who is having an allergic reaction, call for an ambulance immediately. Check to see if the person is carrying an EpiPen or medications to treat an allergic attack. If so, administer the drug as quickly as possible. Have the individual lie down and place the feet higher than the head. If the person begins choking or vomiting, turn the person onto his or her side. Krissondra Klop, DO, is a family medicine physician at Sanford South Clinic in Bismarck. To request an appointment with her, call (701) 323-8962 or visit bismarck.sanfordhealth.org.