10TV: What's Going Around - "Summer Flu" and Sunburn
Many people like to catch fireflies during the summer, but there is one summer bug going around that you want to avoid when enjoying this season’s activities. In addition, to catching the “summer flu,” people are catching too many rays, leading to sunburns, which is sending some people into the doctor’s office. 10TV’s Tracy Townsend went to OhioHealth Urgent Care - Hilliard and spoke with Jason Pedrick, MD, associate medical director of OhioHealth Urgent Care to learn more as part of her weekly “What’s Going Around” segment.
Sunburns
When it comes to sunburns, Dr. Pedrick says that mild or severe sunburns treated in the doctor’s office can be prevented by simply using sunscreen. However, if you do happen to get a painful sunburn Dr. Pedrick says there is a temporary solution.
“If you are having blistering, that takes usually about five to seven days to start going away. You don’t want to pop the blisters yourself, you want them to go away on their own,” Dr. Pedrick told Townsend. “When they do pop there are some topicals you can use that will help with the pain, but you should ask your doctor about those because you don’t want to cause any infections.”
When purchasing sunscreen remember to look for active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. You should also reapply your sunscreen every two hours.
“Summer Flu”
If you are feeling sick to your stomach this summer, the “summer flu” could be caused by a variety of factors. Things like swimming pools or spoiled food sitting in the hot sun could be to blame for your stomach aches or other gastrointestinal issues.
When you go to a cookout this season make sure that the food you are eating has been properly stored.
Dr. Pedrick told Townsend that being aware of your surroundings and what you are consuming this summer can prevent you from needing to take a trip to the doctor’s office.
Always remember to practice proper hygiene, such as washing your hands and using alcohol based hand sanitizer. Also, double-check that the food you are about to eat has not been sitting out for too long.
If you need an OhioHealth Urgent Care this summer or anytime, we are here for you! Click here or download the OhioHealth app to find a location near you. You can even ask Alexa or Google Assistant for wait times.
