July 2017 - On Call Medical Clinic

Summer Illnesses to Watch Out For

summer illnesses

For most people, the warm Summer months means fun in the Sun. From trips to the beach, to lazy days by the pool, to hiking in the woods, and finally to grilling out in the evenings. But this fun can come to an abrupt halt due to a common summer illnesses.

Here are 5 common Summer Illnesses you need to watch out for:

Bug Bites – Insects like mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and spiders become more active during the hot summer months. Bites from these insects can cause illnesses and infections. Mosquitoes transmit viruses such as West Nile and the Zika virus as well as yellow fever. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Recreational Water Illnesses- There are different types of bacteria that can be transmitted through water used for recreational purposes such as hot tubs, swimming pools, and lakes. These bacteria can cause infections. Some of the most common diseases transmitted through water are Giardia, Crypto, Norovirus, and E. Coli. Swimmers ear is caused by water trapped in the ear canal that grows bacteria, making this a painful situation.
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac- When hiking, camping in the woods, or just working in your yard, your chances increase that you will coming in contact with one of these. People who are allergic to these poisonous plants experience a red, itchy, and uncomfortable rash.
Food Poisoning- The warm summer temperatures are a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and live on your foods. You need to be careful not to let your outdoor prepared foods have any less protection that the meals you cook indoors have. For example, keeping them refrigerated if needed prior to eating. Also, insure that you wash your hands as you would when preparing food in your kitchen.
Heat- related illnesses. Heat related illnesses occur when your body loses the ability to cool itself off typically due to prolonged exposure to hot temperatures.

We at On Call Medical Clinic are glad to share this information with you. We are here 7 days a week if summer illnesses occur and you need immediate help. Our trained medical staff is ready to help get you relief quickly so that you can continue to enjoy your Summer Fun.

Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Also, visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all the services we offer.

Summer Heat – Should We Worry About It?

summer heat

We all like to get out and enjoy the Summer and do all kinds of fun summer daily activities like swimming, boating, fishing, going to a waterpark, and just sitting around sun bathing. But sometimes we can overdo it and not realize we have been over exposed to the summer heat.

What should you be aware of that may be signs of overexposure to the Summer Heat?

Here are 8 signs that you have overexposure to the heat.

Heavy Sweating-though if heat stroke sets in, the body can no longer compensate and stop sweating
Pale Skin
Muscle Cramps
Felling Tired and Weak
Altered Mental Status (confusion or disorientation)
Headaches
Becoming Semi-Conscious or Passing Out
Nausea or Vomiting

If you recognize heat-induced illness, the first thing you need to do is call 911.If you can without help or with someone get quickly out of the sun and into a cool area. An air-conditioned area is ideal.

Next apply water to help cool off. Also, apply ice to the neck and armpits. Remove any heavy clothing.

And finally immerse the body in cool water, either in a swimming pool or a bathtub.

Temperatures in the 90s and higher are dangerous. They become more dangerous the higher they go and the longer they last. When enjoying a great summer day be aware of the summer heat and be cautious.

We at On Call Medical Clinic like you look forward to the Summer. We hope that this information was helpful. If you feel like any of these warning signs are present for you are someone with you, feel free to call us. We are open 7 days a week and our trained medical staff is ready and prepared to help when heat overexposure occurs.

Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Also, please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all our medical services. We have onsite excellent laboratory and diagnostic equipment to quickly uncover what your condition may be.

Summer Skin Care

summer skin care

As you prepare to show more skin, be prepared to face the sun’s strong rays with Top Summer Skin Care Tips.

First keep your skin Hydrated

Up your regimen’s level of hydration with intensive masques, perfect for use one to two times a week. Boosters are a great fit, working best when layered underneath a moisturizer. Toners are a refreshing moisturizer prep, working to even out skin porosity. Tip: Refresh with a revitalizing toner spritz at your desk, in the car, at the gym, or anywhere.

Drink Plenty of Water

You should drink at least eight 8-ounce glass of plain filtered every day. This will help you to maintain a critical moisture balance of the body and skin, and assist in detoxification. If you like caffeinated beverages, then you will need to triple the amount of water you drink.

Exfoliate for Cleaner, Smoother Skin

Exfoliation removes dead, dulling skin debris to prevent congestion and improve hydration from toners and moisturizers.

You should perform this in the morning prior to toners, moisturizers, SPF, and make-up.

Sunscreen

Apply sunscreen often, it is not enough to just apply once. As for how much to apply often, a teaspoon for the face and as much as would fill a shot glass are gauges to use.

Repair and Treat Sun Damage

UV light causes photoaging in the form of brown spots, coarse skin and wrinkles. When sunlight comes in contact with your skin a cascade of damages result. You should bombard your skin with age-fighting ingredients to hopefully undo any damages from the sunlight, and to further protect your skin from the aging effects of UV light.

We at On Call Medical Clinic like you look forward to the Summer. We hope that this information was helpful to you. We not only can help when you get severe sun burning, but we also have a great skin care facility to help keep your skin looking young. We are here 7 days a week to help.

Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help with your sunburn or if you have any summer skin care questions. Also, please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all our medical and skin care services.

Sunburn

sunburn

Well it’s summer time and time to have fun in the great outdoors. But this fun can turn on you if your skin is not well protected from the sun’s strong rays and you become sunburn.

Remember care should begin prior to you getting a sunburn. Prevention is the most important step to avoid short-term consequences of sun exposure and long term risks for skin damage and skin cancer.

Immediate self-care is aimed at stopping the UV radiation from the sun.

Get out of the sun
Cover exposed skin
Use sun protection factor of 30 or higher and apply frequently when out in the sun

If, however you get sunburned, relief of the discomfort becomes important. Here are several things that may help

Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen help decrease pain and inflammation especially when started early.
For mild sunburn burn, cool compresses with equal parts of milk and water can help. Cold compresses with Burrow’s solution can also be used. For this product, dissolve 1 packet in 1 pint of water. Soak gauge or a soft clean cloth with it. gently wring out the cloth and apply to the sunburned area for 15 to 20 minutes. Refresh the cloth and solution every 2 to 3 hours.
You can use Aloe Vera gel to soothe irritated skin.
Cool baths may be helpful. Avoid bath salts, oils, and perfumes
You should stay out of the sun while you are burnt.
Hydration is also very important.

If medical attention is necessary you may need stronger pain medication, antibiotics, or silver sulfadiazine, which should all be prescribed by a doctor.

If you suffer any of the following from your sunburn you need to obtain immediate emergency care.

Severe pain
Severe blistering
Headaches
Confusion
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting or dizziness

We at On Call Medical Clinic like you look forward to the Summer. We hope that this information was helpful to you. If your sunburn needs medical attention, we are here 7 days a week to help. Our facility has all the diagnostic and laboratory equipment necessary to help us quickly determine how to help.

Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Also, please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all the medical services we offer.

Fever, When Should I Worry?

fever

Fevers can be a very scary thing for parents, particularly for first-time moms and dads. Every child will eventually experience one, no matter how careful you are.

It is important for parents to know what to do when this happens.

So, what is it? We define a fever as a temperature over 100.4 F (38.0 C). Normal body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C). Everyone’s body temperature varies throughout the day and can differ by age, activity level and other factors. Don’t be alarmed if your child’s temperature varies. The magic number for fever is 100.4 F.

When should you not worry about your child’s fever.

If it is less than 5 days and your child is behaving relatively normally. You should not be concerned with the fever as long as the child is remaining playful and eating and drinking normally.
If the temperature is not higher than 102.5 F and your child is 3 months to 3 years old. If older, the fever can be up to 103.0 F. You should not be concerned in these situations. These temperatures can be common and not necessarily worrisome.
Low grade fevers can be normal if your infant or child was recently immunized. These fevers should last normally less than 48 hours.

When should you call a doctor

If you have an infant younger than 3 months old, the fever may be your infant’s only response to a serious illness.
If your child’s fever is higher than 104 F.
If your child’s fever does not come down after giving them medication.
If your child is not acting like themselves. Your child may be becoming dehydrated when a) your baby is not wetting at least 4 diapers per day or b) your child is not urinating every 8 to 12 hours
If your child who has recently been immunized keeps one for more than 48 hours
Always, if you are not comfortable with your child’s temperature or illness, it is best to call the doctor or his nurse practitioner to discuss your concerns.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information was helpful. We are here 7 days a week if you child has a fever and you need some immediate help or someone to talk to about your concerns. Our staff is always ready to help and our facility has all the diagnostic and laboratory equipment necessary to help determine the reason behind the fever. Please call us at 228 818-8155. Also please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about us and all the medical services we offer.