Medicine Information

Taking The Sting Out Of Bug Bites


(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left alone, the irritation will subside within 48 hours.

However, for some people, particularly children, scratching bites may lead to a highly contagious bacterial skin infection called impetigo. Left unchecked, impetigo can spread to other parts of the body and even from person to person.

As a family physician, I recommend the following tips to ensure you and your family maximize your summer fun and avoid this irritating skin disease:

  • Apply an effective insect repellent as directed. As an alternative to chemical-based repellents, I recommend citronella-based products such as Natrapel®, particularly for young children.

  • Avoid scratching. To calm the itching, traditional products such as calamine lotion may be useful. I also recommend my patients use AfterBite®, a product designed to neutralize the allergens that cause the itch.

  • Keep fingernails short and clean. The bacteria streptococcal, which causes impetigo, hides under fingernails and enters the body when scratching the bite. Children are more vulnerable to this disease because streptococcal is often found in sand piles where kids play.

  • Recognize the symptoms. Impetigo is characterized by a red bump on the skin where yellow pus accumulates and dries, leaving a scab that can be itchy.

  • Protect the infection. Impetigo spreads easily through direct body contact, sharing towels, bedding and clothes. Although it is not a serious disease, it needs immediate attention to stop it from spreading.

  • Seek treatment. The best way to avoid impetigo is to treat a bug bite as soon as possible. Should impetigo develop, oral antibiotics and antibiotic creams may be required as prescribed by your doctor.

    Dr. Brian Aw is a general practitioner, specializing in travel medicine.

    For tips on bug bite prevention and product information visit: www.tendercorp.com/canada.

    Editors: These articles are for use in Ontario only

    About The Author

    News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

    News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    National Academy of Sports Medicine Launches New Course ...
    MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
    CALABASAS, CA, Nov 21, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM; www.nasm.org), a leader in fitness training ...


    Reuters

    Auto bailout: The best medicine?
    Florida Times-Union, FL - 1 hour ago
    By The Times-Union They already received $25 billion in low interest government loans intended to help them transition to a new generation of fuel efficient ...
    Auto bailout must come with strings Visalia Times-Delta
    all 1,065 news articles


    University of South Alabama College of Medicine Chooses MDaudit(TM)
    MarketWatch - 12 hours ago
    ... WIRE) -- Hayes Management Consulting announced today that it will provide its MDaudit(TM) software to University of South Alabama College of Medicine. ...


    MinuteClinic co-founder launches e-medicine startup
    Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
    Nearly a decade after he came up with the idea that became MinuteClinic, Rick Krieger thinks he’s come across a new way to change health care. ...


    Fresh News

    Three Employees Fired After Patient Chokes on Medicine, Dies
    FOXNews - Nov 20, 2008
    GOLDSBORO, NC — North Carolina officials have fired three employees and disciplined others in the death of a patient who was neglected for more than 22 ...
    Firings a good first step in neglect case CharlotteObserver.com
    all 39 news articles


    Detroit prepares to swallow some bitter medicine
    Financial Times, UK - 5 hours ago
    By Bernard Simon in Los Angeles Among the many conditions imposed on Chrysler by Washington in the bail-out of 1979, none is said to have angered the ...


    PR Web (press release)

    BodyLogicMD Sponsors American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
    MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
    "It is a natural step for BodyLogicMD in terms of demonstrating our growth and support in the field of anti-aging medicine and bioidentical hormone therapy. ...
    BodyLogicMD Opens Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Location in Chicago PR Web (press release)
    all 12 news articles


    Entry Level Finding Ways to Help Children With Cancer
    New York Times, United States - 14 hours ago
    She comes to the job with a master’s degree in Oriental medicine from Touro College and a lifelong love of cooking. On doing acupuncture on small children: ...


    Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company to Announce Third Quarter ...
    FOXBusiness - 13 hours ago
    Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company, through its operating subsidiaries Tongjitang Pharmaceutical, Tongjitang Distribution, Tongjitang Chain Stores, ...


    Research and Markets: This Global Research Report in Medicine and ...
    MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
    Nanomaterials, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics and nanoscience in medicine & biology represent the largest concentration of R&D. ...

    Medicine - Google News

  • home | site map
    © 2006