"Grins" are "In" at
ADAT SHALOM DAY CAMP
Rx For Adventur
Pediatrician Martin Levinson discusses legitimate
and not-so legitimate —
health concerns for children at camp.
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Special to The Jewish. News
r
or a child, the woods at camp
are paradise. There might be
caves these, or buried treasure,
or an undiscovered type of
flower, or wild animals, or enough blue-
berries to live on for a month.
For a parent, the woods at camp are a
nightmare. There might be angry bees
there, or mosquitos, or polluted water,
or poison ivy — all waiting hungrily,
eagerly, for an unsuspecting child.
But should parents really be worried?
Dr. Martin Levinson is a pediatrician
with Medical Center Pediatrics in
Bingham Farms who also spends part of
his summer working as a camp physi-
cian at Tamarack. Be sure to take a
healthy dose of his advice before you
send little David or Susie off to camp
with 16 bottles of anti-bug spray or 10
pairs of sweat pants to avoid poison
sumac:
Q Those deep, dark woods — or
even the small ones filled with so
much unfamiliar growth — how
often are these infested with poiso-
nous plants, such as poison ivy, and
what can children do to avoid them?
A: When you're in the woods you
always face potential exposure to plants
such as poison ivy. Essentially everyone
is allergic to them, and when the skin
contacts the oil of the plant a local reac-
tion (that is exquisitely itchy) occurs.
Often, this is followed by a general-
ized reaction that also is itchy. The first
sign is usually a linear grouping of tiny
blisters.
You should educate yourself as to
what the plant looks like (the number,
shapes and pattern of the leaves), then
actively avoid it. Most camps try to teach
children to recognize poison ivy — but
you know many won't pay attention.
Poison ivy can be treated with topical
creams and oral antihistamines.
While eventually the reaction will go
away regardless of treatment, in severe
cases steroid medicines are given by
mouth to reduce inflammation.
Q Some parents say their children
spend half the summer in the pool.
Do they need to be concerned
about "swimmer's ear" or any other
such ailments?
A: Swimmer's ear is an infection tha
occurs when a combination of water
and germs sits in the ear canal for a pro
longed time. It is very painful, but in
most cases it can be treated with drops .
Swimmer's ear begins as an ache tha
intensifies when the ears are moved
around. Children prone to swimmer's
ear should be taught to try to use gravi,
to dry out the ears (tap the head while`
the ear is facing downward). They also
may use the corner of a towel to remov
the water.
•
Dr. Marty Levinson says a dirty bunk
not cause for concern.
Please, no Q-tips in the ears!
Stagnant lake water can cause swim-
mer's ear, and some lakes can carry a dis
ease called "swimmer's itch," which
results in the development of red, itchy
and sometimes painful bumps on the
skin. While not dangerous, it can be
extremely annoying.
If a lake does carry swimmers i tch i
the water can be treated. Swimming
there should be avoided until the lake
has been officially deemed safe.
Q: Constantly eating seems to be a
way of life at camp: breakfast, snack,
lunch, snack, dinner, snack and, of