Common Summer Conditions You Can Treat with Virtual Care
Summer is around the corner, and it’s time to get outside and enjoy all the warmer weather has to offer. However, sometimes playing outside can come at a cost in the form of common summer ailments, including sunburn, swimmer’s ear, poison ivy, dehydration, heatstroke, and more.
BJC Virtual Care is a convenient and easy alternative to an in-person appointment, allowing you to quickly access care, receive treatment instructions, and get back to the best part of the year: enjoying the summer weather. Here are some common summer bummers that you may experience that can easily be handled via a virtual care appointment with BJC Medical Group.
Sunburn is a surefire way to dampen the fun of the outdoors or soaking up the sun on your next vacation. Even the most diligent sunscreen appliers among us are not immune to a missed patch on the shoulder or the bridge of one’s nose. You'll know you've got a sunburn when your skin turns bright red and feels warm to the touch. Often, sunburn is accompanied by itching, pain, and flaking skin. If you get a fever from sunburn or are super uncomfortable, don’t delay, and book a virtual care appointment.
Poison ivy rash happens when someone has an allergic reaction to urushiol, the oily resin found in poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. It’s recommended that you wash your skin right away if you encounter any of these plants. Washing off the affected area may reduce the chances of a rash developing. The rash is very itchy and can last as long as several weeks. Signs of poison ivy rash include swelling, blisters, redness, and even difficulty breathing if you inhale burning poison ivy.
Dehydration is caused when the body emits more fluid than it is ingesting. On sweltering hot summer days when your body is sweating to cool itself down, you’re at a higher risk of dehydration, especially if you’re not drinking enough fluids. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that the recommended daily fluid intake for adults is 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women. If you experience extreme thirst, fatigue, dark-colored urine, dizziness, or confusion, you might be dehydrated.
Swimmer’s ear refers to an infection in the outer ear. It happens when water trapped in the ear grows bacteria. Symptoms include redness of the ear canal, pain in the ear, and fluids and pus coming out of the ear. Seek medical attention if you think you may have swimmer’s ear. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the skin and tissue in the surrounding area, causing a more serious health issue.
Red eyes during summer can be caused by a number of things, and a virtual care appointment can help you get more answers and learn the best next steps. If you wear contact lenses, redness of the eyes may be due to a complication or even an eye infection. Other possible causes include corneal ulcer, corneal shingles, corneal abrasion, eyelid inflammation (blepharitis), or allergies, which are common in the summertime.
People who have allergies know well how challenging spring and summertime can be, particularly with the pollen from blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass all around. If you are suffering from allergies this summer, a virtual care appointment can help you understand the best course of action and consider possible medications that may help, too. Common summer allergies like ragweed, insect bites and stings, mold, and trees can put a damper on even the brightest summer days. Allergy signs and symptoms may include a runny nose, coughing, diarrhea, swollen eyes and lips, wheezing, itchy skin, or pain in the cheeks or forehead.
Heatstroke happens when the body overheats due to exposure to high temperatures or physical activity in high temperatures. People are at an increased risk of heatstroke during summer, when it’s more common to run around outside, whether it’s for a rec league softball game or a jog in the park. Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat injury, and it occurs when the body temperature elevates to 104˚F or higher. Signs of heatstroke include a high body temperature, an elevated heart rate, headache, changes in sweating patterns, nausea and vomiting, and a change in mental state.