Insect Bites

Insect Bites

Insects that bite do it to get access to your blood as that is what they feed on. Biting insects include mosquitos, fleas, sand flies or midges and bedbugs.

In New Zealand, biting insects do not carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever or lyme disease, as they do in other countries. But the result of an insect bite is frequently intense itching, as the insect injects a small amount of an anti-clotting substance so that the blood may be fed on more easily. This often develops into a raised reddened lump at the site of a bite, and may also blister. The major problem with these bites is that the itching results in scratching the area, causing infections and sores to develop, which may take some time to heal, and may also cause scarring.

In order to treat an insect bite you need to relieve the itch. There are many preparations available from your community pharmacy that will help to treat the itch, as it may continue for several days after the bite if you are particularly sensitive to that insect. Often people that are new to an area may have a more severe allergic response to the insects that inhabits that region. Travellers or those on holiday often have a more severe reaction to insects than those that live locally, as an immunity to the insect appears to develop with repeated exposure or bites in the past.

Preparations that your community pharmacist may advise you to use to treat the itch of insect bites include soothing, numbing or mild steroid creams and lotions. If there are many bites, or your reaction is severe, then antihistamine tablets may also be helpful to deal with extended periods of itching. The itch of bites tends to worsen at night when you are in bed and this is when antihistamine tablets are particularly helpful.

As with all preventable conditions, the best treatment of insect bites is not to get bitten in the first place. Regular flea treatment of cats and dogs and good household and personal hygiene will help to remove fleas and bedbugs. It is also helpful to remove or cover pools of water to deter mosquitos.

Your community pharmacist is also able to advise you of suitable products to use to repel biting mosquitos, sand flies and other insects; as well as advise you about how to discourage insects from being attracted to you or your surroundings.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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