Is It Skeeter Syndrome?
Who Gets Skeeter Syndrome?People who are particularly prone to skeeter syndrome include infants and young children who have been bitten and sensitized to mosquito saliva but haven't yet developed natural immunity, as well as people who are newcomers to a region where there are mosquitoes they haven't previously encountered.
For kids in particular, natural immunity can take years to develop because it depends on how often they're exposed to mosquitoes, according to a case study of toddlers and preschoolers with skeeter syndrome. Parents often try to keep kids with severe reactions away from mosquitoes, which stretches out the time it takes for children to build immunity.
People with immunodeficiency disorders are also at a higher risk, Newman says.
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How Do I Know if It's Skeeter Syndrome vs. An Infection?Skeeter syndrome, or an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, is characterized by large red welts. With or without skeeter syndrome, scratching a mosquito bite until it bleeds can lead to bacterial infections.
Skeeter syndrome is commonly mistaken for a type of skin infection known as cellulitis, says Kara Wada, MD, an allergist and immunologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
Cellulitis can develop when bacteria on your body gets through the punctured skin where the bite has been scratched raw, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Warning signs of cellulitis include redness spreading around the bite, pus or drainage from the wound, skin that feels warm to the touch, and chills or fever. Testing blood and skin samples can help confirm a cellulitis infection and pin down the type of bacteria present.
While antibiotics can be used to treat cellulitis, they won't help skeeter syndrome, Dr. Wada says.
"Skeeter syndrome is typically diagnosed through taking a careful history and physical examination," Wada adds. "In reported cases, patients typically were diagnosed after severe episodes."
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So What Can I Do About Skeeter Syndrome? How Is It Treated?Long-acting oral antihistamines like cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), or fexofenadine (Allegra) can help ease severe allergic reactions to mosquito bites, says Purvi Parikh, MD, a specialist in infectious disease, allergy, and immunology at NYU Langone Health in New York City.
Putting ice and topical steroids on the affected area can also help, Dr. Parikh says. Sometimes symptoms are so severe that patients need a prescription for prednisone (Deltasone) or other oral steroids.
"You should see your doctor if you're not improving with over-the-counter treatments or you're getting worse," Parikh advises.
How Can I Protect Myself From Mosquito Bites to Prevent Skeeter Syndrome?Mosquito repellent and clothing that covers exposed skin are the best prevention when it comes to skeeter syndrome (and any mosquito bites in the first place), Parikh says. Staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active and keeping windows closed can also help avoid bites. Mosquitoes tend to come out in droves at dawn, at dusk, and around wetlands.
This advice for avoiding mosquito bites is the same for people who are more prone to skeeter syndrome — they just need to be hypervigilant about these precautions.
"Individuals who are allergic who already suffer from eczema, asthma, or allergies are at higher risk," Parikh says. "They do not necessarily need a more potent repellent, but it's important to remember to use it and reapply frequently."
When mosquito exposure is unavoidable, some people prone to skeeter syndrome may want to take an antihistamine prior to going outside, Newman says.
Which Insect Repellants Protect Against Mosquito Bites and Skeeter Syndrome?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends looking for repellants with the following ingredients to help reduce mosquito bites:
"DEET remains the gold standard by which all other repellents are judged," says Joseph Conlon, a technical adviser at the American Mosquito Control Association who is based in Orange Park, Florida. "Over 25 years of empirical testing of more than 20,000 other compounds has not resulted in another marketed chemical product with the duration of protection and broad-spectrum effectiveness of DEET."
Some studies over the years have linked DEET to some rare but serious side effects, including adverse neurological effects such as seizures, uncoordinated movements, agitation, aggressive behavior, low blood pressure, and skin irritation, according to the CDC.
"Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are remarkably close in effectiveness to DEET, without many of DEET's putative undesirable characteristics," Conlon says.
Whatever repellent you choose, the trick to outwitting mosquitoes is to apply — and reapply — as directed.
"Most apparent repellency failures with DEET are due to misapplications, so care should be taken to apply it thoroughly, though avoiding the eyes and mucous membranes of the nose, and to reapply when necessary," Conlon says. Reapplying is crucial to maintain the DEET vapor barrier above the skin that keeps mosquitoes from biting, he says.
The Sjögren's Syndrome Diet
Common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome include dry mouth and eyes. Following the Sjögren's syndrome diet can help manage the symptoms certain foods may trigger, such as inflammation.
The Sjögren's syndrome diet is a food-based approach to reducing inflammation and other symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome. While not a cure for this autoimmune condition, modifying your diet can help to treat symptoms, provide a higher quality of life, and improve your overall health.
What is Sjögren's syndrome?Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease most common in older women, though it can affect people of all ages. Autoimmune disorders cause your immune system to attack healthy parts of your body, mistaking them as threats.
The disease causes your immune system to attack glands that produce tears and saliva. This affects your body's ability to produce moisture.
The most common symptoms from this disorder are dry mouth and dry eyes. However, you may also experience other symptoms including:
Sjögren's syndrome is often linked to other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Similar to many recommended diets, the Sjögren's syndrome diet focuses on well-balanced meals rich with vegetables, lean proteins, and fruits. Other than increasing nutrients and healthy proteins in your diet, the Sjögren's diet reduces or eliminates foods that can cause inflammation or trigger allergic reactions.
Combined with a prescribed treatment plan, a moderated diet can help to prevent or reduce dryness and inflammation from Sjögren's syndrome.
Foods to avoidPursuing the Sjögren's diet or a similar anti-inflammatory diet means eliminating common trigger foods and allergens.
Some foods to avoid include:
Some foods affect people differently. Though these foods can trigger inflammation and worsen Sjögren's syndrome symptoms, some can be eaten in moderation. This specifically applies to some dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese.
If your symptoms begin to worsen after eating specific foods, consider eliminating them from your diet. Also, discuss your symptoms with your doctor to ensure you receive the best treatment.
Foods to eatMaintaining a diet rich in foods with anti-inflammatory effects can reduce dryness symptoms and provide relief from other associated conditions. Some foods high in anti-inflammatory benefits include:
How you cook your foods can also affect dry mouth symptoms. Here are some additional tips to make your meals more enjoyable:
The Sjögren's syndrome diet, similar to the anti-inflammatory diet, eliminates or reduces foods known to trigger inflammation. It instead introduces foods rich in vitamins and nutrients to create balanced meals. This diet is not a cure for Sjögren's syndrome, but it may help treat associated symptoms including dry mouth and dry eyes.
Combined with traditional treatment methods, the Sjögren's syndrome diet can help provide a higher quality of life and optimal health. Prior to pursuing this diet, discuss your expectations and options with your doctor to ensure you receive the best treatment.
What's To Know About Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?
Ramsay Hunt syndrome, also known as herpes zoster oticus, is an infection of a facial nerve. It is a neurological disorder in which the Varicella zoster virus infects specific nerves in the head.
The Varicella zoster virus can also cause chicken pox. People who have had chicken pox carry the dormant virus in their nerves. Some years later it may become active again, infecting the facial nerve, causing Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
The condition involves a painful rash and facial muscle weakness, which is sometimes confused with a stroke.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is usually effectively treated, but some people may have permanent facial muscle weakness and hearing loss.
The risk of complications drops significantly with prompt and proper treatment. The longer the person has to wait for treatment, the smaller the chances of making a complete recovery.
The Office of Rare Diseases classifies Ramsay Hunt Syndrome as a rare disease, with an incidence of around 5 in every 100,000 people in the United States. Most doctors will never come across a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome during their careers.
Early treatment improves the chance of a complete recovery.
The doctor is likely to prescribe an antiviral medication, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex), as well as a corticosteroid for the swelling and pain. The patient may have to take diazepam (Valium) for the symptoms of vertigo.
If facial weakness persists after the completion of medical treatment, the physician may recommend physical therapy to help regain proper use of the facial muscles.
An injection into the upper eyelid of botulinum toxin type A, more commonly known as Botox, may help those who have trouble closing one eye. An eye patch may help protect the affected eye.
Patients may take from a few weeks to several months to recover from Ramsay Hunt syndrome. If treatment is delayed and nerve damage is severe, a full recovery is much less likely.
Successful recovery from Ramsay Hunt syndrome is dependent on recognizing and treating symptoms in the first few days.
The best way to ensure the fullest possible recovery is to take the drugs acyclovir and prednisolone within 7 days of symptoms starting.
The damage caused by Ramsay Hunt syndrome is reversible.
Signs and symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome include:
Individuals over the age of 60 years who have already had chickenpox have a higher risk of developing this syndrome than other age groups. Ramsay Hunt syndrome has been known in extremely rare cases to affect children.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is not contagious, but a person with the condition can pass chickenpox on people who have never before had the disease.
People with Ramsay Hunt syndrome should wait until their blisters scab over before being in contact with individuals with weakened immune systems, those who have never had chicken pox, infants, and pregnant mothers.
Complications are rare if treatment starts within a few days of the onset of symptoms. A small percentage of patients may, however, experience permanent hearing loss and facial weakness even if their treatment was applied quickly and effectively.
If treatment is delayed, there is a risk of losing facial movement permanently, as well as uncontrolled movements, such as blinking. Some people may find it hard to close one eye, which can eventually damage the cornea, leading to eye pain and vision problems.
Some patients may experience pain long after other symptoms have gone, in a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia.
The virus may spread to other nerves, such as the brain and spinal cord, causing confusion, lethargy, back pain, weakness in the arms and legs, and headaches. In such cases, the patient may require a spinal tap to determine which areas of the nervous system have become infected.
A doctor will probably make a diagnosis if the hallmark signs of facial weakness and a blister-like rash are detected. A nerve conduction study may be performed to determine the extent of damage to the facial nerve, as well as defining the likelihood of recovery.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is commonly misdiagnosed, as many doctors have never encountered the condition.
A sample of the fluid in one of the blisters in the ear may be taken to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor may also use a tear or blood sample.
An imaging scan, such as an MRI, may reveal swelling of the facial nerves. Scans can also help the doctor determine whether the virus has reached the brain or other nerves.
