Preventing and treating tick bites and poison ivy Posted: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Bringing home a good batch of mushrooms might also mean bringing home some unwanted pests like ticks and poison ivy.
We spoke to Dr. Ernie Wallace at Quincy Medical Group.
Dr. Wallace said over the past couple of weeks they've seen 12-20 patients per day for ticks or poison ivy.
He said most larger ticks can be removed safely, but if you leave part of the tick embedded in your skin...it's best to have a doctor remove it.
He also told us even though lyme disease is the first thing folks worry about after a tick bite...it's very rare in the Midwest.
Dr. Wallace said if you contract poison ivy you don't have to worry too much about spreading the rash to your family.
"Contageousnes is a little bit of a myth with poison ivy. The first day or so when the resin is not fully bound to your skin it's possible to get it under you fingernails and spread it early on. But once you're two to three days into that the resin is fairly stuck to the skin...it's not going to spread to another person at that point," Wallace said.
Dr. Wallace said if you feel like you've come in contact with poison ivy you can wash vigorously with soap and water to prevent a rash...but once you have it...all you can do is treat it with anti-itch creams.
If you feel those creams aren't working...especially for severe cases on the face or eye, Dr. Wallace recommends seeking medical treatment for a prescription steroid.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I sent in my comments - lets see if they put in on the page after the "editors" review it.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
So far they haven't posted my comments. I'm trying to track down this guy's address so I can send him an email, a letter or some info, etc.
I just can't let this go even though I don't live in Illinois.
Did anyone else write a comment?
Please?
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Seems to me midwestern LLMDs and their patients as well as any midwestern support groups could be notified about this article for response.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Hey they posted my response and another one.
Write in everyone! We need to set the record straight.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Added my $.02 !! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
UP
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Living in Illinois and having contracted Lyme in Illinois I also sent in my 10 cents worth! Hiker
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Pretty sure this is our guy.
Posted by Kayda (Member # 10565) on :
Hey, I noticed he likes movies. Let's send him the movie "Under Your Skin" when it comes out!
Kayda
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Did you like this part of mine??
"Lyme disease RARE in the Midwest!?? Way wrong!! It's far too common and far too commonly overlooked and underdiagnosed by ignorant doctors."
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
There were some really good responses to that lame ducks opinion re: Lyme.
I wasn't sure how to post a comment, but I wonder if anybody could add (or tell me how)
A line re: Not seeing a tick that gave you Lyme and/or co-infections.
To see a tick burrowed in my skin would probably just send me over the Lyme edge....
I never saw a tick on me.....my husband never saw a tick on him....neither did my neighbor.
No rashes and.......We all have Lyme!!!
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
Thanks everybody for helping to reply. I sent an email to the staff at the Medical group with resources.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Geneal:
Go to where it says Comments. In purple it says "post a comment" or something like that (Lyme Fog). Click on that and it will take you there.
Molly
Posted by LZOChicago (Member # 8641) on :
Thanks for posting the article and link. I posted a comment yesterday - I hope Dr. Wallace is reading the comments!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)