Don’t let these common summer health woes ruin your fun!

Poison Ivy  When your summer plans take you on a nature trek through the woods, try to remember this old adage, “leaves of three, let them be”, which will come in handy when trying to determine what poison ivy looks like. 

Poison Ivy is a tri-leafed plant that usually has a little yellow and purple on it.  It tends to be located with other shrubbery, hiding out with the vegetation.  Poison Ivy grows everywhere in the U.S. and southern Canada, except for the far west, deserts, and high altitudes.

The oil in the poison ivy vines, leaves, and roots is the problem.  This oil is called urushiol, and causes an allergic reaction after exposure.  You can get poison ivy by touching something that has touched it, such as your clothes or a dog.  Normally, poison ivy is contracted by touching the leaves, or pulling the vine out by its’ roots and getting the oil on the skin.   Some people have even been put in the hospital by burning poison ivy and breathing in the smoke.

Poison ivy starts out as a slight itchy spot, which will continually get worse and worse.  If you think you may have come in contact with poison ivy, within the first hour you should rinse the area with a lot of cold water.  Do not use hot water, as the heat will open your pores and let the oil in.

The rash can last anywhere between one to three weeks, depending on how severe it is and how you treat it.  If inflicted with poison ivy, you can treat it with topical anti-itching lotion, such as Calamine lotion.  But, if you’ve noticed it just getting worse, you will need to contact your family physician for topical or oral steroids.

For more medical advice on poison ivy, please visit The American Academy of Dermatology and Poison by clicking here

Swimmer’s Ear Lakes, rivers, oceans, and pools – one of kids’ favorite places to be in the summertime is anywhere they can get wet and splash around.  But, whenever kids get their ears wet, there is always a chance they may fall prey to this summer nightmare: swimmer’s ear.  It has been known to ruin vacations, picnics, and all around summer fun.

Swimmer’s ear results from water getting trapped in the ear canal, causing the ear to get inflamed and infected.  Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include ear pain, a decrease in hearing, and a sensation that the ear is full.  Other symptoms could also include a fever or swollen lymph nodes.

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, swimmer’s ear requires a prescription, so you will need to see your family physician.  To prevent future swimmer’s ear, consider using wax earplugs or custom fit earplugs.

Food-Born Illnesses Whether it’s potato salad that’s been sitting outside all day at a family picnic, or a turkey sandwich in your picnic basket during a day at the beach, summertime foods can be a Petri dish full of bacteria and a playground for trouble. 

Food born illnesses are common in the summertime for a number of reasons, according to Linda Harris, PhD, professor in the Food Science and Technology Department at University of California Davis.  When tit gets hot outside, the opportunity for temperature abuse of foods is on the rise. 

The danger zone of foods is anything above 40 degrees and below 140 degrees.  This is the range that microorganisms which cause food-borne diseases can multiply.  To prevent taking the chance on food-borne illnesses, it is recommended that you cook, clean, chill, and separate. 

Cook: Use a thermometer when cooking foods so you know they are adequately heated.

Clean: Wash your hands with soap and water before eating.  If you are at a picnic and don’t have access to soap and water, bring sanitizing hand wipes.

Chill: Use a cooler to maintain food in a cool temperature.  Don’t use a cooler to make things cold – use it to keep things cold.  If you can’t use a cooler, bring foods that don’t need refrigeration, or bring your foods frozen, so that when you are ready to eat them, they will be thawed out. 

Separate: Keep your utensils and dishes that you’re going to eat off of, separate from the one you use for raw meat. 

Some symptoms that may signal food-borne illnesses are vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, or any combination of these. 

Food-borne illnesses can take anywhere from two-hours to three days to get over.  Symptoms that are severe or prolonged could be an indication of a severe food-borne illness such as E. coli, which can be life threatening.  If this is the case, please contact your family physician.

Mosquito Bites They used to be just red, raised bumps in the summertime, and nothing else to worry about other than the annoying itch that accompanied them.  Now, with the West Nile virus a nd the Triple E - Eastern Equine Encephalitis to worry about, mosquito bites can be risky business. 

Avoid mosquito bites by using an insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus in it.  Also wear as much clothing as the warm weather allows, and avoid the outdoors at dusk and dawn – the peak times that mosquitoes will bite. 

The itchy red bumps usually go away in about a week or less.  But, to deal with them in the meantime, you should keep the area clean, use a cold compress to alleviate the itching, and take an antihistamine or use anti-itching cream. 

If you are experiencing a fever, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting, or swollen glands, as well as a rash on your back, chest, or stomach, you should see your doctor immediately as there’s a chance these could be symptoms of West Nile Virus.