According to Kristina Šnirpūnienė, a pharmacist at “Gintarinė vaistinės”, it is worth preparing in advance in order to avoid inconveniences during travel. It is good to include antihistamines, ointments with diphenhydramine, which helps suppress itching, and skin disinfectants in the travel first aid kit. Such measures can be especially useful if you unexpectedly encounter allergic reactions or parasitic insects while on vacation abroad.
How to recognize bites?
“Blood-sucking bugs are spread through dirty bedding, furniture (usually beds), mattresses, carpets and dirty towels. After bedbug bites, red bumps with a dark center appear, resembling a small raised red wound and a mosquito bite. Rashes can form in groups and lines on the upper part of the body: on the face, neck, hands or back”, K. Šnirpūnienė points out.
Another blood-sucking insect that is often encountered during hotel stays is the flea. Unlike bed bugs, fleas usually bite multiple times in the same place, so the bites look like little red pimples. Another difference from bed bugs is that fleas bite more often on the lower part of the human body (legs and ankles, waist, groin or knee folds).
According to the pharmacist, noticeable red spots on the body are usually the first sign of clothes lice bites. This type of lice lives in clothes and bedding, and climbs on the skin only to feed.
“Travelers to developing countries in the world should be aware that they are more likely to be infected with the lice that carry the fever. The main symptoms of this disease are rash and high temperature. Bites can also cause a strong allergic reaction, therefore, if severe swelling, shortness of breath, diarrhea or a drop in blood pressure occur, it is necessary to immediately take anti-allergic drugs and consult a doctor,” says K. Šnirpūnienė.
Prevention is key
Upon arrival at a new residence, it is advised to carefully check bedding, furniture, carpets and even towels for possible signs of parasites. In addition, according to the specialist, it is important to check whether you did not bring clothes lice into the room with you. To protect against pests, K. Šnirpūnienė advises washing clothes and bed linen at a higher temperature and ironing them from both sides.
However, if the bites could not be avoided, the itching can be relieved with cold compresses or special ointments with diphenhydramine. According to the pharmacist, after taking these measures, the rash should decrease after a day and eventually disappear.
“The greatest risk of complications would arise if bacteria would enter the scraped areas and cause a skin infection. If the skin at the site of the rash turns red, starts to ooze or puss, you should consult a doctor to prescribe an ointment with antibiotics,” the pharmacist says.
There are not only parasites in travel
Another common complaint that travelers bring back from vacations is allergic skin reactions that occur after swimming in pools or other bodies of water. The most common cause of such reactions are chemicals used to disinfect pool water.
At the same time, K. Šnirpūnienė notices that allergies caused by food products or exotic plants are also very common. However, an allergic rash, unlike parasite bites, resembles the redness of the skin caused by a nettle.
“Pressing the red swelling of the hives through its center turns it pale. Other allergy symptoms may occur, such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. Allergies usually appear 2 hours after contact with the allergen. If there are no allergenic sources, it usually goes away after a day. In the case of a severe allergy, it can last up to 4-6 weeks. Anti-allergic drugs can speed up healing and improve well-being”, notes K. Šnirpūnienė.
Urges not to forget about hygiene
The pharmacist adds that in addition to parasitic insect bites or allergic reactions, travelers may face other dangers – bacteria that cause infectious diseases. One of them is staphylococcus, which often causes various skin infections. It usually manifests as a skin rash with pustules, but painful welts can also appear.
“The first aid is non-alcohol disinfectants. Do not stick plasters or apply heating compresses, as this will create favorable conditions for the bacteria to multiply. After disinfection, the blisters are left open. If you feel worse – the temperature rises, the pain intensifies – it’s worth visiting a doctor, because you may need antibiotics,” says the specialist.
The pharmacist advises all travelers to take care of hand and body hygiene before going abroad. It is especially important to pay attention to cleanliness for those with damaged skin, who sweat a lot or suffer from atopic dermatitis.
2024-08-28 09:19:15