College First Aid Kit

Happy Fall 2015! I disappeared for the summer, as I finished writing the second edition of my first book (Seductive Delusions), as well as a series of medical articles for Livestrong.org. Since all of my patients are current college students, I thought I would share a series of posts about common health issues for otherwise healthy young adults. Pictured above is my favorite personalized gift for graduating high school seniors- a first aid kit, complete with  my instructions for "when and how to use what" to feel better.

Let's start with one very basic item that is RARELY found in dorm rooms: a THERMOMETER!

Knowing whether or not you have a true FEVER (temperature >100.4*) is a very helpful piece of information, especially when you are calling in to a nurse hotline to get advice about your symptoms. 

Allergies, for example, frequently cause sore throat, headache, and drainage, but do not elevate your temperature to a true fever level, but rather typically cause a slightly elevated temperature to 99*. Viral infections often will cause a SUBnormal temperature of around 98* (especially after the first day), even though you feel "feverish" or chilled. 

Not everyone "lives" at 98.6*, by the way. Check your temperature randomly a few times on different days/weeks when you feel perfectly fine, so you know what is YOUR normal. This is partly why we check temperatures on everyone who comes in to the doctor's office, at every visit- even when you are not sick (but there for a sprained ankle, blood pressure medication, insomnia, whatever.)  

A few side notes: if you are using an oral thermometer, be sure to wait a half hour after eating, drinking (or, heaven-forbid, smoking), because these activities will falsely elevate or lower the temperature measured in your mouth. Ear thermometers measure about a half degree Fahrenheit higher than oral thermometers. Finally, body temperature fluctuates roughly 1*F throughout the day, so check your baseline temperatures at different times. The goal is to find out your average normal temperature. Obviously, if your usual temperature is 97. 4*, a temperature of 100* really is a FEVER for you. 

Which type of thermometer is the best? 

For a college student, I recommend an inexpensive digital thermometer...maybe two, because the batteries wear out. The more expensive ear and temporal thermometers require more precision and effort to be accurate (removing ear wax, for example). Digital oral thermometers across the board seem to be fairly reliable. Old fashioned glass thermometers are no longer recommended, because of the risk of breaking and then exposure to mercury.

BOTTOM LINE: A college student's first aid kit should start with a thermometer, and encourage your son or daughter to learn their baseline temperature, AND to check their temperature before they call their university's health services advice line. 

PS. Virtually every university now has a 24 advice line staffed by an actual, live human being- be sure your college student has that number programmed in to their smart phone!

I'm a Scorpio- but I don't like SCORPIONS!

Yuck! Not a great way to start the day, I can assure you. This is my foot next to the rather large scorpion that was scrambling towards me as I stepped out of the shower yesterday morning! No, I'm not so neurotic as to have a camera handy that second, but when I grabbed a shoe and killed it, I decided it wasn't smashed too badly, and that perhaps I should blog on this too common, unwelcome Texas houseguest.

So, what do you do if you (or a friend or family member) is stung by a scorpion? First of all, don't panic! Most of the time, a scorpion sting is like a bee sting- pain, burning, mild swelling and maybe numbness locally, that will resolve fairly quickly. If you live in Texas, we are fortunate that our scorpions, scary as they can look, are not severely poisonous. If you live in New Mexico or Arizona, watch out for the dreaded bark scorpion, which can cause more serious reactions such as severe swelling, shortness of breath, shock and even death. If you are stung and your symptoms rapidly escalate, go directly to an emergency room.

For the majority of stings, however, first aid will do. Wash the area immediately with soap and water. Ice and elevate the area if possible. Remove any rings, bracelets, watches or other constrictive accessories. If you are starting to swell up, take a diphenhydramine (benadryl) tablet/capsule. Topical steroid wont hurt, and might help a bit. Ice the area for about ten minutes.
A non-scientifically proven, but much recommended home remedy is to very quickly apply a paste of meat tenderizer (with papaya extract) and a bit of water directly onto the area that was stung. This seems to alleviate the pain more rapidly, and at worst case, it is not harmful. Finally, check the date of your last tetanus shot- if it is more than 7 years ago, go get a new one.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are stung by a scorpion in Texas, wash it with soap & water, apply ice, take some benadryl and see your doctor if symptoms escalate (or if you are behind on your tetanus booster.)
PS. Happy September 1st! You know what to do- change those AIR FILTERS!