NEPA Vital Signs - Summer Fall 2018 - 9

SUMMER/ FALL 2018

* Bee stings can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people.
The area of the sting becomes swollen and the person may
develop swelling of the throat and have trouble breathing. Some
bee stings prove fatal. Many people know they are allergic and
have an over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl and
an epinephrine injector such as an Epi-pen available for use.

Avoid the heat and wear your sunscreen, life
jackets and helmets. Use caution around
the grill and refrigerate food after you eat.
Wash hands to avoid contagious diseases,
and try to prevent allergic reactions
and bee stings before they happen.

Water Problems

Rhus Dermatitis

* Otitis Externa is a simple ear infection caused by water being
trapped in the ear canal. It is commonly referred to as swimmers'
ear and is treated by antibiotics administered as ear drops.

* Rhus Dermatitis is commonly called Poison Ivy. The plant is
abundant in our area, and can be commonly picked up while
doing yard work or hiking in the woods. In allergic patients,
it causes an itchy, blistering rash.

* Drowning in either fresh water such as a lake, a private or
municipal swimming pool, or even the ocean is a human tragedy.
Keep an eye on young children who are in the water or near the
water's edge. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while boating or
swimming. Medical attention for drowning victims begins with
bystanders providing basic life support, which can be learned
either through the Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Food poisoning
* Food poisoning is common during the summer when vulnerable
food is left unrefrigerated. Mayonnaise is usually the culprit.
Gastrointestinal distress is set up with nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea after eating spoiled food.

* Lightning strikes do occur during many of our summer storms.
People hit by lightning can experience anything from minor
burns to a full cardiac arrest.

Accidents and Injuries

Overheating

* Sports such as baseball, hiking, football practice, and friendly
backyard games can result in ankle sprains and fractures. Falls
increase the risk of shoulder and wrist injuries.

* Sunburn is one of the most common summer medical problems.
Although most are minor, first degree burn where the skin becomes
red, some can be more serious. A second degree burn causes the
skin to blister and may cause pain and even lead to infection.

* Lawn mower injuries are common and can create anything from
broken bones and lacerations, to amputations of fingers and
toes. Flying debris can also cause eye injuries.

* Skin burns from our favorite pasttimes such as grilling steaks,
hot dogs, and hamburgers happen all too frequently as well.

* Bicycling injuries range from minor cuts resulting from falls to
major trauma when bicyclists are struck by cars. Head injury
is a leading cause of bicycle related deaths, making the helmet
so very important to cyclists of all ages.

* Heat rash or prickly heat can occur from overheated skin under
clothes. Cooling the skin off and applying an over the counter
one percent hydrocortisone cream can help.
* Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two of the most serious
summer health issues.

The good weather in our region makes Spring and Summer
the perfect seasons for enjoying our free time and our families.
Remember the summer pitfalls mentioned in this article and
remember, too, how much you can do to make your time healthier
and safer: Avoid the heat and wear your sunscreen, life jackets
and helmets. Use caution around the grill and refrigerate food
after you eat. Wash hands to avoid contagious diseases, and try
to prevent allergic reactions and bee stings before they happen.

* Hyponatremia or low serum sodium levels sometimes arise from
outdoor activities such as hiking, running or football practice
in the hot summer sun. Symptoms include vomiting, swelling
of hands and feet and confusion and death.

Asthma and Allergy
* Allergy symptoms often increase in spring and summer seasons
because of all of the seasonal plant activity. The early part of
the summer has trees pollinating. As our cars start to have that
green sticky look, many of us will be sneezing and have runny
noses. Many of the allergy symptoms can be treated with over
the counter antihistamines and nasal steroids.

Many summer illnesses and injuries are preventable. Hopefully, this article can help you avoid some summer pitfalls. If
not, remember that prompt medical care is often the key to a
quick recovery.
DR. MARK EVANS, D.O. is a board certified internist in
Dunmore, Pennsylvania.

* Asthma is a huge problem in some people, where others experience allergies in the noses and eyes; people with asthma will
see symptoms manifest in the lungs, with a cough, wheezing,
and difficulty breathing.
N E PA

VITAL SIGNS

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