Category Archives: Health & Wellness
What’s the Buzz About Bug Spray?
By: LISA GOLDBERG KEITHLEY, M.D.
Summer’s here and as you shop for insect repellant, you will be faced with a choice: Should you get one with synthetic (man-made) ingredients or one that is “natural”?
Some people worry that synthetic materials used in sprays – such as DEET and picaridin ‒ may be harmful. Others claim that natural sprays don’t work well, so why use them?
Here’s what you need to know about choosing a product that will safely keep biting beasties away this summer.
Synthetic sprays
The most popular bug sprays at your local store will probably have the chemicals DEET or picaridin as their main active ingredients.
DEET is one of the most effective repellants available. It works well against mosquitoes (up to 12 hours), ticks (up to 4 hours) and other insects. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved DEET for both adults and children 2 months and older, but frequent and heavy use may cause skin irritation. For adults, look for products that contain 15%-30% DEET, but kids 12 and under should use a product with 10% DEET or less.
Picaridin is made from piperine, the alkaloid that gives pepper its peppery characteristics. It is odorless to humans but smells repulsive to insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and flies. It keeps mosquitoes away for up to 8 hours and ticks for up to 5 hours. Picaridin is slightly milder than DEET, and skin irritation is less likely. Look for spray products, which generally work better than lotions or wipes, containing 20% picaridin.
Natural sprays
Natural insect sprays use plant-based substances instead of man-made ones. Not all natural sprays work equally well, so here’s what you need to know.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is one of the most effective natural ingredients. It keeps away some ticks, flies and gnats, but it’s most useful against mosquitoes (up to 6 hours). Though it is natural, it isn’t recommended for kids under age 3. Look for products with 30% oil.
Sprays containing 2% soybean oil have been shown to provide up to 4 hours of protection against mosquitoes. Soybean oil is safe to use on infants and children.
Unrefined essential oils such as citronella, geranium and rosemary are promoted as all-natural repellants. But despite their popularity, they typically only work for about half an hour, and then the bugs will be back.
So what works best?
For the best protection against biting insects, choose a spray with synthetic DEET or picaridin. They repel a greater variety of bugs and stay effective longer. This is especially true if you live in an area heavily infested with mosquitoes.
If you prefer a plant-based product, and you live in an area where mosquitoes are less of a problem, sprays containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or soybean oil may give you adequate protection.
Besides using bug spray, see these tips from the CDC for preventing bug bites.
Dr. Keithley cares for patients in the Arnold office. She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice.
What the New CDC COVID-19 Guidelines Mean to You
By: FALANA CARTER, M.D.
With growing numbers of people getting COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC has released new guidelines to keep us safe as we leave our homes and return to public life. The guidelines include recommendations for both those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume some of the activities you did prior to the pandemic
You are considered fully vaccinated 1) two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or 2) two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen vaccine.
- You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except where required by local governments or businesses. Maryland’s mask order — which required face coverings indoors at schools, day care centers, medical settings and on mass transit — ended July 1. However, a federal order requiring masks on planes, subways, buses and other mass transit remains in effect, and local governments can set their own rules. Also, as we informed patients in a recent email, MPCP is following CDC and OSHA guidelines that healthcare staff should continue to wear masks and personal protective equipment, and people visiting our offices should continue to wear masks.
- If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested or self-quarantine after travel.
- The COVID-19 situation varies greatly around the world, so check international conditions if you plan to travel abroad.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- If you have a health condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, talk to your MPCP provider about your activities.
If you are not fully vaccinated, continue to take all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19
About 25% of Marylanders have not gotten any of the vaccine (as of July 15), which means the virus still has plenty of opportunity to spread. If you aren’t fully vaccinated:
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Stay six feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Get vaccinated as soon as possible.
With the arrival of new types of the coronavirus, and the possibility that infections will again spike in the fall, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. Call your MPCP office today to schedule your vaccination.
Dr. Carter is an MPCP partner and received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians and provides patient care in the Arundel Mills office.
Will My Child Be Safe at School?
BY: ANDREA C. CUNIFF, M.D.
Maryland children are finally returning to the classroom. This is welcome news for most families, but some parents wonder whether their kids will be safe from COVID-19 at school.
Maryland schools are taking precautions to protect children and staff members, including social distancing, mask wearing, limited class size and stepped-up cleaning. So as reported in Maryland School Reopening Guidance from the Maryland Department of Education, schools are pretty safe when it comes to the coronavirus. Here are some highlights from the report:
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- Many fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 than adults.
- Children are less likely to become infected than adults.
- Children under 10 appear to not spread the virus as much as adults.
- Children generally have milder cases of the disease and lower rates of hospitalization.
- Spread of the virus in schools is uncommon when prevention strategies are used effectively.
- When Covid-19 does spread in schools, it is much more likely to be between staff members than between staff and children.
- From Aug. 10, 2020 to Jan. 10, 2021, only 4.3% of persons 19 years or younger who got COVID-19 said they had attended or visited in a pre-K-12 school. That means most were not infected at school.
- Maryland has prioritized vaccination of educators and staff in all K-12 schools. This is underway now.
See public and non-public K-12 schools that have reported Covid-19 cases
While schools are taking precautions, you should remind your children to protect themselves with these safe practices:
- Stay separated (at least three feet, according to the latest CDC guidance): This includes not bunching up while standing in line, leaving space between seats at lunch, and not getting too close to others at recess.
- Wear face masks: This should be a priority, especially when it’s hard to maintain social distance, such as on the bus or entering the school building. Wear cloth masks or the disposable medical face masks that are now widely available at grocery and drug stores.
- Give your child a clean mask and back-up mask each day and a clean, resealable bag for them to store the mask when they can’t wear it, such as at lunch.
- Keep hands clean: Practice hand-washing at home with your child: soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Encourage them to wash before and after eating or after coughing/sneezing. If hand washing isn’t available, use hand sanitizer.
- Stay home if sick: Children should stay home if they have tested positive or are showing any COVID-19 symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Dr. Andrea C. Cuniff earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She sees patients in the Annapolis office.
2021 Allergy Forecast: A Bad Year for Everyone?
BY: MICHAEL VOLKER, CRNP
Like taxes, allergy season is one of those things you just can’t avoid. In fact, due to climate change, it may be getting worse. Warmer temperatures lead to more pollen production, so 2021 may be the most intense allergy season yet. And due to COVID-19 quarantine, children may especially have a rough year.
When is allergy season?
It starts in the spring and continues until the fall, but different allergens, the substances that trigger allergies, appear at different times.
March and April: As spring begins, tree pollen is the top allergen, followed by weeds and grasses. In some parts of Maryland, it’s not unusual to see cars covered by the itchy stuff.
May to July: In May, all the trees, grass and weeds gang up to pump out allergens, making it a bad time for allergy sufferers. This is the start of peak allergy season, which continues until July.
July to September: Enter ragweed, a common flowering plant. Ragweed is the leading cause of seasonal allergies, with 75% of all sufferers allergic to it.
October: With temperatures falling and plants starting to go dormant, the air starts to clear, bringing an end to outdoor allergy season. Now it’s possible to breathe a sigh of relief without coughing.
See the Interactive Allergy Forecaster for allergy conditions where you live.
COVID-19 and children’s allergies
Many children have been quarantined for the past year, with limited time outdoors. Now that they’re starting to return to their regular routines, you may notice they’re sneezing, coughing and rubbing their eyes more than they have in past allergy seasons. This may be because spending a year indoors has made them more sensitive to allergies.
Children need some exposure to allergens for their immune systems to learn how to fight them. Since many kids have had limited exposure to outdoor allergens for a year, they may have stronger allergic reactions than they had in the past.
Surviving allergy season
The best thing for both adults and children to do is minimize your exposure to allergens. Try not to go outside when the pollen count is high. Use the Interactive Allergy Forecaster to see what allergy conditions are in your area and get forecasts for tree, grass and ragweed pollen. Other things to try:
- If you have pets, keep them in the house on high-pollen days. Pollen may stick to their fur and end up in your nose.
- Change your AC filters regularly and consider getting a HEPA air filter to strain allergens out of the air in your home.
- Use over-the-counter allergy medicines to relieve symptoms: antihistamines to relieve your itchy nose and sneezing, and decongestants to get rid of your stuffy nose.
- On high pollen days, change your clothes when coming in from outside.
- Keep windows and doors closed to reduce pollen entering the house.
If your or your child’s allergy symptoms are severe or continue a long time, your health care provider may be able to help or refer you to an allergist.
Michael Volker, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, received his Master of Science in Nursing degree from Walden University and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He sees patients in the Arundel Mills office.
