Dear Bush Doctor, if I have been stung by a bee in the bush, what is the right thing to do?
Firstly do not to panic. Check if the bee’s sting is still in the skin. Then use a sharp blade or a needle, an 18 gauge is easiest to handle, and lift it off. Do not use a tweezers, an onion or a potato, it causes the venom in the bee’s sting to enter the skin and make the burning worse and worsens the reaction. If you have an antihistamine tablets such as Phenergan or Celestamine available, take one immediately. If it is a child you can use the equivalent of the syrup but please check with your GP what the correct dose is as it depends on the child’s age. The antihistamine will decrease the reaction to the venom and thus decrease the swelling and pain. Then apply an antihistamine cream such as Anthisan (I prefer it because it has a local anaesthetic, which will help for the pain, but Phenergan cream will also do.
Dear Bush Doctor, my son suffers with hay fever, especially when we go camping, what can I do?
We are blessed with rich flora in Africa, unfortunately many people react to the spores and pollens floating around in the air. You can visit your GP and ask him to prescribe an antihistamine that suppresses the allergic reaction to the spores and pollen. In cases where the child is going to take it for prolonged periods of time I prescribe non-sedating anti-histamines. No one wants a sleepy child whilst on leave. There are many available and your GP will know which one will be best for your child.
Dear Bush Doctor, my wife suffers from nosebleeds, what is the proper way to treat it?
Many people that suffer from nose bleeds have an underlying allergy that causes the tissue in the nose to swell. This causes the superficial blood vessels to burst causing nose bleeds. Ideally one needs to find out if there is an underlying allergy. People suffering from allergies often feel that their nose is blocked or they have a runny nose or both. These people tend to blow their nose regularly or too hard. The blood vessels exposed and fragile and tend burst. The best thing to do is to treat the allergy. In children, the same happens but children tend to pick their “blocked” nose. The scab that has formed is removed, by the grubby little finger, causing repeated nose bleeds. Ask your GP to have a look, he may cauterise the problematic blood vessel or refer you to an ENT.
Dear Bush Doctor, if I have been stung by a bee in the bush, what is the right thing to do?
Firstly do not to panic. Check if the bee’s sting is still in the skin. Then use a sharp blade or a needle, an 18 gauge is easiest to handle, and lift it off. Do not use a tweezers, an onion or a potato, it causes the venom in the bee’s sting to enter the skin and make the burning worse and worsens the reaction. If you have an antihistamine tablets such as Phenergan or Celestamine available, take one immediately. If it is a child you can use the equivalent of the syrup but please check with your GP what the correct dose is as it depends on the child’s age. The antihistamine will decrease the reaction to the venom and thus decrease the swelling and pain. Then apply an antihistamine cream such as Anthisan (I prefer it because it has a local anaesthetic, which will help for the pain, but Phenergan cream will also do.
Dear Bush Doctor, my son suffers with hay fever, especially when we go camping, what can I do?
We are blessed with rich flora in Africa, unfortunately many people react to the spores and pollens floating around in the air. You can visit your GP and ask him to prescribe an antihistamine that suppresses the allergic reaction to the spores and pollen. In cases where the child is going to take it for prolonged periods of time I prescribe non-sedating anti-histamines. No one wants a sleepy child whilst on leave. There are many available and your GP will know which one will be best for your child.
Dear Bush Doctor, my wife suffers from nosebleeds, what is the proper way to treat it?
Many people that suffer from nose bleeds have an underlying allergy that causes the tissue in the nose to swell. This causes the superficial blood vessels to burst causing nose bleeds. Ideally one needs to find out if there is an underlying allergy. People suffering from allergies often feel that their nose is blocked or they have a runny nose or both. These people tend to blow their nose regularly or too hard. The blood vessels exposed and fragile and tend burst. The best thing to do is to treat the allergy. In children, the same happens but children tend to pick their “blocked” nose. The scab that has formed is removed, by the grubby little finger, causing repeated nose bleeds. Ask your GP to have a look, he may cauterise the problematic blood vessel or refer you to an ENT.