by Aaron Hanshaw on May 15, 2012
That time of the year is now here, all the bugs that we all forgot about 
are now back and waging war on us; at least it seems that way.
In Dayton, these biting bugs include ticks, mosquitoes, and spiders. They can all bite, giving you what is called an insect bite or “arthropod bite” in technical terms.
Most of the time, you can kill the bug while it is biting you and never give it a second thought. Other, more problematic complications can occur from a simple bug bite, however. I’ll list below the signs of a more important problem could be and what they can indicate.
- Increasing redness and swelling – this can indicate a worsening allergic response to the bite, or often an infection that is setting up from scratching the site
- Streaking (red streaks on the skin radiating from the bite spot) – this can mean an infection is spreading in the lymph tissue and can be a serious problem quickly
- A “bulls eye” sign – this can come from a tick bite if the tick was a deer tick, the kind that spreads Lyme’s disease
- Skin dying off and an ulcer forming – this can indicate that the bite was from a spider such a brown recluse, their poison can cause the skin to ulcerate and leave a large open sore afterward
The above are signs that you need to seek medical attention. As stated above, the bites usually cause a little irritation requiring mild over the counter medicines or even just watchful waiting. However, if any of these types of problems come a bug bite to you or a loved one, make sure they are seen by a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
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by Aaron Hanshaw on May 3, 2012
Recently, a local school in Germantown, Ohio had to shut their doors temporarily to clean off surfaces and disinfect.
Graphic courtesy of Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
This happened because over 200 students and workers came down with viral gastroenteritis. This particular outbreak was due to a virus called norovirus. Norovirus, a relatively common virus, causes the whole nausea/vomiting/diarrhea picture. Originally named the “Norwalk agent” after Norwalk, Ohio, norovirus caused big problems in 1968 for children at Bronson Elementary School.
Norovirus symptoms include fever, body aches, and of course, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea. Things to worry about during this disease process include:
- dehydration,
- electrolyte problems,
- and others depending on what other medical conditions the patient has. Just like with every illness, it affects elderly and the very young the worst as a rule. It can be a huge problem if the person is on a lot of medications as well.
Treatment of this condition is relatively easy as well. You need to drink plenty of fluids. You need to be seen by your healthcare provider as soon as possible so they can tell you what you need to do based on your chronic medical conditions. For example, if you are “water pills” for a health condition then your provider may adjust your medicine during your illness.
Usually, norovirus is what is called a self limiting process, meaning the virus goes away on its own. Norovirus usually lasts a few days.
How to avoid norovirus
Here are some tips from the CDC:
- Wash your hands with warm soap and water – especially after using the bathroom or handling a soiled diaper.
- Do a thorough job of washing fruits and vegetables before cooking and eating them. Same thing with oysters and other types of shellfish. Make sure to cook thoroughly.
- When you’re doing laundry, make sure to carefully handle (wear rubber gloves) soiled clothes. Wash thoroughly in longest cycle and machine dry.
- Clean all surfaces with a bleach solution.
Please note: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can indicate something more severe than your run of the mill illness. It is important to have a visit with a healthcare provider to receive proper diagnosis and treatment advice.
Feel free to contact my office at 937-439-7430 or seek out a healthcare provider on LocalDocs.
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are now back and waging war on us; at least it seems that way.
