Buzz Off:
No Appointment Necessary
Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, June 24 and August 12, 2007
Show 413
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
Ahh summer. Warm days, balmy nights and nasty bug bites. Sara Herman, our Walgreens pharmacist, has some advice to take the itch out of bites.
Sara Herman, PharmD:
You know, there are more than 170 million insects for every person on earth. And sometimes it seems like they're all in my backyard. Fortunately, most bites and stings are harmless and can be treated quickly and easily.
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
Exactly. You know, when my six-year-old daughter gets a mosquito bite, the first thing she wants to do is scratch. But actually, that's the worst thing she can do.
Sara Herman, PharmD:
That's right. Scratching causes more irritation and can lead to infection. So to stop the itch, thoroughly wash the area of the bite and apply hydrocortisone or calamine spray. For bites that have become irritated from scratching, treat them with an antibiotic ointment and protect them with a bandage for faster healing.
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
Right. And they should heal up pretty quickly. Most bites and stings are just a minor nuisance but to for people they can cause a severe allergic reaction. You need to be aware of that and watch out for any swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing or rapid heartbeat. Any of these symptoms may mean that you need to seek emergency attention right away.
Sara Herman, PharmD:
That's right, Dr. Lisa.