Most insect bites, however, may be painful and frightening but are not dangerous. However, there are some insect bites that require prompt medical treatment.
Insect bites can be dangerous if there are:
••••multiple bites from wasps or hornets
••••bites from any insect to which you have previously developed an extreme allergy
Home Treatment:
••••Remove the stinger if possible.
••••Apply ice to the area or soak the part in ice water (half water, half ice). Do not use salt water!
••••For the next few days, be sure not to soak the bitten part in hot water.
••••Take cool showers, cool baths, and do not exert yourself to the point of becoming hot.
••••Heat will make the poison from the insect bite spread more widely and rapidly.
••••If you have not had a tetanus booster within the last 5-10 years, you will probably need one.
See your doctor immediately or go to an Urgent Care Center if:
••••Severe abdominal cramps
••• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
••• Skin rash away from site of insect bite, or rapid increase in size around the site
••• Shortness of breath

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones form in the kidney when chemicals in the urine form crystals that stick together. The stone may be as small as a grain of sand, or sometimes a quarter- to a half-inch in size. Small stones are often passed out of the body with the urine. Most stones cause pain as they move from the kidney to the bladder.
Most kidney stones will pass in the urine in a few days.
Once the stone gets from the kidney to the bladder, the pain stops and there may be a period of several days without any pain before it passes through the passage from the bladder to outside.
Sometimes, but not often, the stone gets stuck along the urinary tract and has to be removed by surgery.
Treatment:
••• Your doctor can prescribe medication to reieve pain until the stone passes. Take this medication as directed.
••• In mild cases, if you have no allergy, take aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen
••• Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. This helps flush the stone through the urinary tract. It will also help prevent other stones from forming.
••• Stay as active as possible because this may help the stone pass. Walk as much as possible.
••• Do not stay in bed.
If you wish to be proactive in your treatment, you can help your doctor treat you as follows:
••• Urinate into a glass jar for the first several days so that when the stone passes, you will see it at the bottom of the jar.
••• Urinating through a coffee filter is another way to catch the stone.
••• Take the stone to your doctor. It can help your doctor treat you.
See your doctor immediately or go to an Urgent Care Center if:
••• the pain is not controlled by the medication prescribed
••• you have a fever over 101 degrees F or 38 degrees C
••• you have shaking chills
••• you feel more and more unwell

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is experienced by most people at some time, and in most cases, it eventually goes away by itself. The pain is usually caused by an injury to the muscles and/or the other soft tissues. At times, the pain can be severe, and this is caused by muscle spasm.
It is common to feel pain in the buttocks or leg. The problem is made worse by certain body positions, and by anxiety and stress.
••• If you have already seen your doctor and your pain has not been relieved, please see our page on chronic pain, and read our chronic pain article.
Generally, x-rays are not helpful because the problem is in the tissues that do not show up on plain x-rays.
••• For acute pain, you should rest on a firm mattress in a comfortable position. This may be on your back with a pillow under the knees, or on your side with a pillow between your legs.
••• Bed rest for more than two days is not helpful usually.
Pain medication:
••• Use Aspirin or Tylenol, Aspirin with codeine, Tylenol with codeine, or Ibuprofen.
••• Your doctor may prescribe something else.
••• Ice packs can be used for the first 12-24 hours after acute injury, for 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours. After this, apply heat (a heating pad or hot bath) 2 to 3 times a day.
••• Massaging the back with a liniment may also help.
Exercise (when you are having less pain):
Pelvic Tilt:
••• Tighten your abdominal muscles, flatten your back into the bed, and draw in your navel. Your pelvis will tilt upward.
••• Tighten your buttocks, and hold to the count of five.
••• Repeat this 5 times, 5 times throughout the day
Lie on your stomach:
••• Get into the push-up position. Keeping your pelvis on the bed, do a push-up gently at first (if necessary, lean on your elbows), then completely straighten the elbows so that the low back is bent backward.
••• Relax your lower back.
••• Repeat 5 times throughout the day.
Stop if this makes any pain in your leg or buttock worse.
Knees to Chest:
••• Lie on your back, knees bent, feet on the floor (or bed)
••• Bring one knee to your chest, hold for 10 seconds, then lower. Now do the same with the other knee.
••• Repeat this 5 times, 5 times throughout the day
As your pain improves:
••• Bring both knees to your chest and hold for 10 seconds, then lower.
••• Repeat this 5 times, 5 times throughout the day
Rock:
••• Roll onto your back. Bring your knees to your chest, place hands at the back of your thighs or in front of your knees, and rock back and forth
••• Repeat this 5 times, 5 times throughout the day
The key to a healthy back is posture, flexibility and strengthening.
••• Keep the natural hollow in your back at all times- while lifting, sitting and driving. An orthopedic office chair omay be beneficial
••• As your back improves, your doctor can prescribe a simple regular exercise program for your back in order to avoid recurrences
••• Get advice from your doctor or a physiotherapist
See your doctor immediately or go to an Urgent Care Center if:
••• you develop incontinence of stool
••• you have problems urinating
••• you develop weakness of both legs

Middle Ear Infections

This is an infection behind the ear drum. Ear infections often follow the common cold. Middle ear infections may cause a fever. The pressure on the ear drum causes pain. Rarely, the ear drum can break, causing drainage of pus or fluid or blood from the ear.
Treatment:
••• Give your child the antibiotic as prescribed by your doctor until it is finished
••• Inadequate treatment can result in hearing loss or other more serious complications like meningitis or mastoiditis
••• If there is no improvement within 2 days, the child should be seen by your family doctor.
••• If there is an improvement, the ear should be rechecked by your family doctor in 10-14 days when the antibiotic is finished
••• Acetaminophen may be given for fever or pain
••• After the infection is gone, fluid may persist in the middle ear for some weeks. Your family doctor will follow this.

Mono (Infectious Mononucleosis)

Mono is short for mononucleosis. It is an infection caused by a virus. Mono can affect the throat, lymph glands, liver and spleen. Mono is diagnosed by a blood test.
Sometimes the infection has to be present for several days before the blood test shows that the virus is there.
Symptoms:
••• a fever
••• sore throat
••• swollen glands
••• tiredness
••• headache
••• sometimes a rash, or sometimes yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
How is Mono Spread?
••• The virus is spread through sneezing, coughing and kissing.
How is Mono Treated?
••• Mono does not get better with antibiotics.
••• It is safe to control fever with acetaminophen (Tylenol).
••• Do not use Aspirin or medicines containing (acetyl)-salicylic acid- this could lead to Reyes Syndrome which causes brain and liver damage.
••• Get plenty of rest and sleep.
••• Rest until your fever is gone.
••• Drink at least 8 glasses of fluid a day, especially if you have a fever.
••• Try to eat a well-balanced diet, even though you don't feel like eating.
••• Gargling may help your sore throat.
••• Use warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup of water), or use double-strength tea.
••• Try starting normal activities after your fever is gone.
••• Rest when you are tired.
How Long Does it Take to Get Better?
••• Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks. You may feel tired for 3 to 6 weeks after the other symptoms are gone.
••• No sports, strenuous exercise or heavy lifting are allowed for 6 weeks. These activities could injure your spleen.
••• you have trouble swallowing
••• you have trouble breathing
See your doctor immediately or go to an Urgent Care Center if:
••• you become very lightheaded
••• you have pain in your abdomen or your shoulder
••• there is confused speech or odd behavior

Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (Morning Sickness)

Morning Sickness is very common in pregnancy. It usually begins at about week 6, and ends at week 12. The cause is not known definitely, but is likely related to hormonal and chemical changes in pregnancy.
Treatment:
••• Get as much rest as possible
••• Try to avoid stress
••• Eat frequent small meals, every 2 hours
••• Meals high in protein and carbohydrates are considered best
••• The foods should also be easily digestible
••• Spicy foods usually worsen the problem
••• Cold foods have less smell, and some women are much more sensitive to smell in pregnancy
••• Snack foods can include soft bread, salty chips, sour pickles, crackers and fruit juices
••• Do not drink liquids for 30 minutes before eating
Medication:
••• Simple antacids may be used for heartburn
••• Ginger root and slippery elm have not yet been proven safe
••• The use of a medical like Diclectin may be necessary. Diclectin is considered safe in pregnancy. Diclectin is taken usually before bed at night so that it will be working by morning. The dose is 2 tablets.
••• If this does not help, then 1 tablet can be added in the morning, and 1 tablet in the afternoon.
Hints for Reducing Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy:
••• Eat crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning
••• Eat frequent small meals every 2 hours
••• Avoid drinking liquids 1/2 hour before meals or 1/2 hour after meals
••• Drink plenty of fluids between meals to prevent dehydration
••• Eat slowly and do not lie down after eating
••• Do not skip meals needlessly
••• Avoid spicy food
••• Avoid fried food, especially if you fry it yourself
••• If odors bother you, try to have good ventilation in the kitchen
••• Try eating cold food instead of hot (cold food does not have as much smell)
••• Do not hesitate to eat when you feel you can