Health

Mosquito bites
What it looks like: Red, itchy bumps.

Immediate action: As soon as you notice a bite, wash the area with soap and water. Calamine lotion will soothe itchiness, and an ice pack will reduce swelling. Discourage itching as best you can, as it leads to more itchiness and swelling. A topical hydrocortisone (e.g. Cortate) will relieve itchiness and may be used along with Benadryl. One trick — try rolling a liquid or solid antiperspirant over bites. If they’re still itchy, repeat after five minutes.

Ongoing care: The best way to prevent further mosquito bites is to wear an insect repellent. DEET is effective because it confuses the mosquito’s chemical receptors. Children under 12 should use only 10 0EET or less.

Complications: Because a bite breaks the skin, bacteria can enter and lead to infection. A significant area of swelling and redness, especially if pain is present, warrants a trip to the doctor’s office. If your child develops flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle aches or swollen glands), see your physician, as West Nile virus, though rare, may need to be ruled out.

Slivers
What it looks like: A sliver of foreign material (wood, glass, metal) imbedded in the skin.

Immediate action: If there are fine splinters on the surface of the skin, pat the area with packing tape and the splinters will adhere to the tape. For deeper splinters, remove with tweezers. Clean tweezers with an alcohol wipe before using.

Ongoing care: Keep the area clean with soap and water.

Complications: A physician should be consulted if the entire splinter can’t be removed, or there are signs of infection, redness or pain.

Originally published in Today's Parent, July 2005