Blog
Should I Go to the ER for Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning – also known as foodborne illness - is caused when eating food or drink contaminated with harmful bacteria. Millions of people develop food poisoning each year, and while at-home treatments work for most cases, others require medical attention. What is Food Poisoning? There are hundreds of types of food poisoning and determining the cause of a case can be difficult. Food poisoning can be caused by consuming items contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses or mold. Bacteria is the leading cause of [...]
When Fevers Become an Emergency
What are typical fever symptoms? The average body temperature of a human is around 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The body will increase its temperature past this threshold to fight infection, resulting in a fever. Some common symptoms of fevers include: Sweating Chills and shivering Headache Muscle aches Loss of appetite Irritability Dehydration General weakness Not all fevers are accompanied by these symptoms and vary from person to person. However, even though most fevers are not severe, there [...]
Treatment for Insect Stings and Bug Bites
Bug bites and insect stings are generally minor nuisances that cause temporary irritation. They can be red, swollen and itchy, and for the most part, they disappear on their own within a few days. However, in some cases, ointment or daily care is necessary to decrease the bite or sting. In rare cases, they can require medical treatment. But how do you care for a bug bite or sting? And most importantly, how do you [...]
Heatstroke and Its Symptoms
Warmer weather means it’s essential to take precautions from getting sick. While it’s normal to think of sickness in the form of a virus and bacterial infection, it is possible to come down with unrelated conditions. For example, higher temperatures cause dehydration, leading to heat stress, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke. Out of the three, heatstroke is the most severe, and it’s essential to pay attention to its signs and symptoms. But most importantly, how do [...]
When to Seek Care for Swimmer’s Ear: A Guide
Swimmer's ear is often a painful infection of the inner ear canal caused by a moist environment producing bacteria. It can make the ear feel uncomfortable, itchy, swollen and inflamed until treatment is administered. But what exactly is swimmer's ear, and most importantly, how can it be treated? Symptoms of swimmer's ear Swimmer's ear is common in children and people who spend a lot of time in the water. It usually starts with itching, [...]
Head Injury Symptoms
A head injury can be life-threatening and cause painful long-term issues if not treated quickly. This is why it is important to be able to identify a severe head injury right away. Serious head injuries share some common symptoms that you can look out for, but it’s also essential to know how head injuries can occur. How do head injuries occur? A head or traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when the head takes a collision, is pierced by [...]