Itchin' and Rubbin'

Pruritus: Why Am I Itching? Am Fam Physician. 2011 Jul 15;84(2):203. See related article on pruritus. What is pruritus? Pruritus (proo-RY-tis) is itchy skin or a feeling that you need to scratch. It can hurt and can cause sleep problems and depression if it becomes severe. What causes it? The cause isn't always known, but dry skin is most common. Many other skin problems can cause itching, often with a rash. Serious medical conditions, like kidney or liver problems, sometimes cause itchy skin. How is pruritus treated? There are simple things you can try at home. Avoid common household products that might be making you itch, like perfumes, detergents, and fabric softeners. To prevent dry skin, bathe less often and don't use hot water. Make sure you rinse off all of the soap, pat skin dry, and use a gentle moisturizing cream or ointment (for example, petroleum jelly). If using a moisturizer three times a day doesn't help, ask your doctor about using an over-the-counter cream called hydrocortisone. Your doctor may need to prescribe a pill to stop the itching or to treat a skin infection. When should I see my doctor? If home treatments don't work, you should see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you are older than 65 years, your itching is severe with no obvious cause, or your skin is red, swollen, warm, or leaking fluid. Your doctor can probably tell what is causing you to itch by examining you and asking you questions, but you may need a skin test. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.

Those D**%#** Hemorrhoids !!

What are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids) are dilated veins around the rectum. Most people have discomfort or bleeding from hemorrhoids sometime during their life. Hemorrhoids usually go away on their own in about one to two weeks. What can I do about them? Avoiding constipation is the most important thing you can do to treat and prevent hemorrhoids. Straining on the toilet for a long time can make hemorrhoids worse. These things can help keep you from getting constipated: •Eat foods high in fiber, such as brown bread, rice, pasta, fruits, and vegetables •Add extra fiber to your diet by putting bran on your cereal or by taking fiber supplements •Drink at least eight glasses of water per day If you do get hemorrhoids, using medicated wipes after bowel movements can help with pain and itching. Sitting in a warm bath may also help. There are some creams for hemorrhoids that you can buy without a prescription. They can shrink the hemorrhoids and help with pain and itching. But make sure you read the labels carefully; some of these creams contain steroids. You should not use steroid-containing creams for more than a few weeks because they can damage your skin permanently if they are used too long. When do I need to see my doctor? Call your doctor if creams and warm baths do not help, or if you have any bleeding from the rectum. It is important to make sure that hemorrhoids are causing the bleeding, and not a more serious condition. You should also call your doctor if the pain suddenly gets worse. What if my hemorrhoids are very bad? If your hemorrhoids are causing a lot of pain or bleeding even after treatment with creams and baths, you may need surgery. There are several options. Your doctor may be able to treat them in his or her office by giving you a shot or by using a special light that shrinks the hemorrhoids. Make sure to tell your doctor if you are taking a blood thinner or aspirin. Some types of hemorrhoids can be treated with a procedure called rubber band ligation. A rubber band is tied around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply. The hemorrhoid then shrivels up. Most people do not need anesthesia with this procedure. People with more complicated hemorrhoids may need to see a surgeon for stapling or removal of the hemorrhoids. Both of these operations require anesthesia. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. And that's the end of this tail....er, tale!!

TICKS - OH MY !

Jul 03, 2011 Ticks are one of the most serious outdoor pests, since they bite and may carry diseases. Ticks are arthropods, more closely related to spiders. Adult ticks have eight legs, while insects have six legs. Ticks are ectoparasites, which means they must have a host for each stage of their life cycle to survive and reproduce. Types of ticks The American dog tick is the most common tick in Alabama. Larvae, nymphs and adults are commonly found on dogs but rarely on humans. The body length of an unengorged adult is about 1/8 inch, but can extend to 1/2 inch when fully engorged after a blood meal. The American dog tick is the most common carrier of the disease-causing agent for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Lone Star tick is a confirmed carrier of human ehrlichiosis. Sixty-eight percent of all ticks recovered from humans are Lone Star ticks. While the Lone Star tick species is a known carrier of disease, each individual tick is not infective. This concept is true for other tick species that have been confirmed to carry disease-causing agents. The black-legged tick, commonly called the deer tick, is associated with Lyme disease. The preferred host for the adult ticks is white-tailed deer. The bite from a nymphal stage tick is most often associated with Lyme disease, because the nymph is small and may go undetected. Lyme disease is primarily a problem in the Northeast and upper Midwest United States, but has been found in Alabama. Tick bites can also result in prolonged itching. How to avoid ticks Minimizing your exposure to tick bites is the best way to avoid tick-borne diseases: • Wear light-colored clothing in wooded areas or places that ticks are known to infest. Ticks are easier to see on light colors so you can remove them before they attach. • Tuck pant legs into socks, boots or shoes to prevent ticks from crawling up under clothing. • Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to boot or shoe tops, around the waist and on exposed skin. • In heavily infested areas, you may want to use permethrin on clothing. Permethrin is not for use on skin. Make sure that clothing treated with permethrin dries for at least two hours before use. Most insect repellents for mosquitoes usually work well against ticks. • Examine yourself carefully for ticks after leaving the woods or tick-infested areas. Check especially the hair, shoulders, armpits, waist and inner thighs. How to remove a tick Normally, ticks must attach for several hours before a disease agent is passed from tick to man. Therefore, if you remove ticks promptly, you greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Check your pets, especially dogs, for ticks as often as possible. Outside pets can pick up ticks and bring them into the home. Remove attached ticks carefully. Using a pair of fine tweezers, firmly grasp the tick at the point closest to where it is attached and pull with a slow steady motion. You should hear a “pop” as the tick’s mouthparts are pulled free. Disinfect the bite with rubbing alcohol or iodine. Avoid removing ticks with bare fingers. If the tick is crushed, you could introduce the disease agent through cuts or abrasions in your skin. Remove ticks from pets in the same way you remove ticks from yourself. Spraying for ticks There are several products labeled for controlling ticks in the yard, among them carbaryl, permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and tralomethrin. Most general lawn insecticides mention whether they will control ticks. You may elect to simply treat a specific area, such as a portion of your yard just before a picnic. Be sure to always follow the label directions and allow sufficient time for the product to dry before allowing people and pets to enter the area. Applications at two- to four-week intervals may be necessary to eliminate ticks. Frontline and Top Spot are recommended for controlling ticks on pets. It is important to treat pet areas on the same day that you treat the pet to avoid re-infestation. Read more: Anniston Star - On Gardening The ABCs of controlling ticks