Fredericksburg Parent

42 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2022 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING Summer is synonymous with fun for many kids. A break from school means more time for swimming, sports and other activities. Unfortunately, summer is also a time of height- ened injuries among children. Parents play an important role in helping children avoid injury by providing supervision and teaching kids safe ways to enjoy swimming, cookouts, hot days and everything else summer is known for. As our July expert, Lisa Petty, a family nurse practitioner with Mary Washington Urgent Care in King George County, offers tips and insights on how to keep kids safe this summer. Q: What are some of the most common injuries you see kids coming in for in the summer months? Lisa Petty: We see a lot of everything, and of course, cuts, scrapes and broken bones are common. But this year we are seeing a lot of kids come in with dermatitis caused by poison ivy, as well as bug bites. Q: With bug bites and poison ivy, what are some signs that a parent may need to seek medical attention for their child, versus just treating the reaction at home? Lisa Petty: You are looking for any signs of infection. These can include increased redness, weeping, the bite or bump being warm to the touch. Or the child might have a fever, chills, fatigue or body aches. All of those symptoms are signs you need to seek help, and it's important to remember that if you notice these symptoms after a tick bite, these can cor- relate with Lyme disease, so you'll definitely want to come see us so that we can get you started on an antibiotic. Q: That's a good point. The Virginia Department of Health reports that Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne ill- ness in Virginia. If a parent finds a tick on their child, what should they do? Lisa Petty: Remove the tick as soon as possible, because the risk of Lyme disease transmission increases with the amount of time a tick has been attached. This is why it is so important to check yourself and your children as soon as you get in from being outside. The best way to remove the tick is to grab it with tweezers as close to the skin as pos- sible, to ensure that you get the head as well as the body out of the skin, because the toxins are located in the head. Once the tick is out, watch for increased redness around the site of the bite. A circular "bullseye" rash with a clear center is a common sign of Lyme disease—especially if this rash expands beyond two inches in diam- eter. Other symptoms of possible Lyme disease infection include fatigue, muscle soreness, stiffness of the neck and a low-grade fever. It's impor- tant to seek medical care if you experience any of these after a tick bite. The best way to remove a tick is to grab it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Tips For a Safe Summer

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