Bites, Burns and Blisters: When to Visit Urgent Care

Whether you are hiking, visiting the beach or just laying around your yard, summer usually means more time spent outside. While time spent outdoors is linked to better mental health, there are some risks to interacting with nature. Cara Phillips, PA-C, a Physician Assistant at Crystal Run Healthcare’s Urgent Care, shares a few tips about when to visit urgent care to get these summer injuries treated.

"Summer is a time for outdoor activities," said Cara. "However, it also brings risks like insect bites, burns, and blisters."

A primary care provider (PCP) can treat many medical issues that can occur when you spend time outside. However, urgent care centers are good resources when you have a non-life-threatening injury but one that needs prompt attention, same-day care or after your PCP usual office hours.  The urgent care centers at Crystal Run can help you treat your bites, burns and blisters to get back to your summer plans safely and in better health.

You may want to visit an urgent care for:

Bites and Stings: Bites from animals can range from irritating, like sand flea bites, to dangerous, like animal bites from bats, squirrels, snakes and other local animals. Bites from bugs like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies can carry diseases like Eastern equine encephalitis, Lymes disease and West Nile virus.    Insects with stingers on them like wasps, bees and hornets are also common for the area.  If you notice a persistent rash, signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness or swelling where you were bitten, or experience any signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives or itching  from a bug bite or sting,  you may need immediate or emergency medical attention.  PCPs and urgent care clinics can administer treatment for non-life threatening allergic reactions.*

*A note on life-threatening allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis is a multi-systemic response to an allergy that can be fatal if left untreated. Any symptoms of anaphylaxis, having a history of a previous severe allergic reaction or symptoms that are worsening rapidly require 911 emergency services.    Typically, the first signs of anaphylaxis are mild, but quickly worsen to include symptoms like swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing often within the first hour of the initial sting or bite. Any of these symptoms after an allergen exposure requires a 911 call.

While you should immediately seek treatment for a wild animal bite due to the risk of infection or disease, most animal bites usually come from a pet at home. You should see a doctor if the bite has cut into your skin or if you do not know if you are up-to-date on your tetanus vaccination. Emergency care for animal bites and scratches is highly recommended if your wound was caused by a bat, fox, skunk or racoon, any animal that is unknown to you or isn’t up to date on its rabies vaccine or any animal that is behaving abnormally. You should also watch closely for signs of infection around the bite area.

Signs of an infected bite wound include:

• The wound area increasing in pain
• Pus or liquid coming from the bite wound
• Area surrounding the bite being red or swollen, especially after two to three days
• Red streaks on the skin around the bite
• Glands near the bite becoming swollen  

Burns:  Burns are a skin injury caused by direct contact to extreme temperatures, chemicals, friction, electricity or radiation. While people may still think of burns as 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns, it's actually better to talk about how much of the body is burned when medical intervention is needed. Superficial burns, or burns that damage a small area of the top layer of the skin, can be treated at home. Superficial burns typically look red or irritated and are painful, but do not blister and instead cause peeling. Partial-thickness burns affect the dermis, which is the layer under your skin, and it recommended that they get treated by a medical professional, like those at Crystal Run Urgent Care, depending on the cause, where they are located, if they are larger than the size of your hand or if you have certain underlying health conditions. Partial-thickness burns can discolor skin, blister and cause texture changes to the affected skin. Full-thickness burns can affect the fat, muscle or even bones under the skin and cause nerve damage. The burn itself may not be painful due to nerve damage, but the area around the burn can be painful. These burns always need emergency medical treatment.

Blisters: Blisters are fluid sacks that form under the skin. They can be caused by friction, burns or types of skin diseases and conditions. Blisters usually go away on their own, but some need to be evaluated and treated by your PCP or local urgent care. It’s important to see a doctor for a blister if you get a fever or if the blister starts to look infected or feel warm. If you see a swollen, suspicious bump or blister, a visit to your primary care doctor or urgent care is recommended. You should also see a doctor if you have many blisters and don’t know what caused them, or if you have health issues like diabetes that affect your blood flow or nerves.

“While minor bites, burns or blisters usually don’t need medical intervention, it’s important to seek evaluation if you develop fevers, headaches, joint pains, severe redness, warmth or purulent discharge from any lesions,” advised Cara. “Urgent Care providers are able to treat mild infections and allergic reactions so you can get back to enjoying your summer as soon as possible.”

Urgent Care centers can treat a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries at a more affordable price than that of a hospital emergency room. Crystal Run Urgent Care provides access to high quality, walk-in medical care when you need it the most, including weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Each urgent care location offers an extensive range of treatment services, including IV hydration, injury treatment, lab tests to aid in diagnosis and comprehensive imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, x-rays and ultrasounds. If follow up care is needed, our urgent care providers can connect with primary care providers and specialists for continuous care. With four Urgent Care locations throughout Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland Counties in Middletown, Newburgh, Rock Hill, and West Nyack, NY, Crystal Run is committed to patient care and satisfaction 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

Cara Phillips, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in urgent care. She has been practicing at Crystal Run Healthcare for 23 years. Cara is currently treating patients at our urgent care locations in Monroe, West Nyack, and Newburgh, NY.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/mosquitoes/diseases.htm

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_sheets/birth-19_years/insect_bites_and_stings_birth-19_years.htm

https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/insect-sting-allergies/

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/bites/prevent-treat-bug-bites