Foreign bodies in the eye

When physicians refer to "foreign bodies" in regards to the human eye, they are talking about anything that has found a way on top of or into the patient's eyeball. This ranges from the occasional stray eyelash, to the wayward flying insect.

The eye can increase the volume of tears it produces in order to flush out the foreign body as a natural defense. For smaller bodies, this response alone is enough to resolve the problem. However, some foreign objects- such as pieces of metal- require medical assistance for removal.

Symptoms and Causes of Foreign Eye Bodies

Most individuals who are able to feel pain will know immediately when they have a foreign body in their eye. The feeling ranges from mild discomfort to extreme pain in the eyeball and surrounding areas. Additional symptoms include:

  *   Eye redness
  *   Eye pain
  *   Eye Bleeding- internal and/or external
  *   Blurred or loss of vision

The main cause of a foreign eye body is inadequate eye protection. For example, helmets with face guards strongly recommended for motorcycle drivers to protect their eyes from swiftly moving bodies carried on the wind. For professions and tasks that include metal working, carpentry, and painting, proper eye protection is also recommended.

Major foreign bodies in the eye require immediate medical attention to prevent further injury and infection to the eye. Seek help from your local urgent care center for targeted, quick medical care for the removal of the foreign body.

Head Louse 101

Unfortunately, head lice (also known as Pediculus humanus capitis) is a condition that many people at any given time of their life will experience. Head lice is common parasitic infestation of the scalp that occurs after head-to-head contact. The louse itself cannot fly, and it is not able to survive for more than 48 hours without feeding on a human host.

The head louse is usually small, about the size of flake of skin. They feed on blood, and the scalp itching commonly associated with head lice occurs when the head louse bites their host.


Head Lice Treatment

This condition is not particularly serious, and most experts will recommend over-the-counter lice treatment shampoos and lotions for mild to moderate infestations. Examples of common head lice treatments include:

  *   NIX
  *   RID
  *   Lice Sheild
  *   LiceMD
  *   LiceFreee!

Additionally, some medical experts advise not resorting to medication at all. At-home treatments include combing through the patient's hair systematically with a special lice and nit comb while the hair is wet or saturated hair conditioner. With this method, the patient or a caretaker helping the patient should systematically part the hair in locks, and run the comb to remove adult lice, nits, and eggs. Patients in areas where pesticide-resistant lice varieties are rampant are encouraged to use the nit comb technique.

However, when over-the-counter lice treatments fail, the patient will need to visit their physician for prescription strength head lice treatment. This may include a strong hair lotion or shampoo. Severe infestations that are nonresponsive to other treatments may even require a pill medication.

If you feel like over-the-counter head lice treatment is not working for you or your child, seek medical advice from your PCP, or urgent care provider over the weekends.

1. In the first stage, a substance called collagen comes into contact with blood and the damaged cells release a substance called phospholipids.
2. In the second stage, platelets circulating in the damaged area stick to the collagen and form what is charmingly called, “a platelet plug.” This “plug” forms the initial barrier to stop external bleeding.
3. Plasma proteins start a series of chemical reactions with the platelet’s enzymes to create a substance called prothrombin, an early coagulation factor.
4. Once prothrombin is created, another enzyme reaction leads to the creation of the enzyme thrombin/thrombase. Thrombin sets the stage to create the blood clot.
5. With thrombin in place, a substance in blood plasma called fibrinogen creates another enzyme reaction to form fibrin. It is insoluble, meaning it don’t dissolve in water. The “blood clot” that we are familiar with that forms on our skin and stays there until it calls off is in the fibrin stage.

The community in Houston, TX is no stranger to the sun, and they definitely are not strangers to sunburns. Unprotected skin that began the day as one shade but is ending the day in a shade of lobster red should be cared for with the same gravity as a laceration.

Sunburn is a condition that occurs when skin is exposed to the sun and becomes red and irritated. Despite the fact that most patients regard sunburns as minor, it is important to remember that even mild cases of sunburn are a first-degree burn.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can have even worse effects on the skin: second or even third-degree burns. The characteristic stereotype of the sunburn victim- a lobster red caricature- is actually suffering from a second degree burn. Serious sunburns can even make the patient feel flu-like symptoms such as nausea, chills, fever, and fatigue.

All sunburns- regardless of their severity- should be cared for and, more importantly, prevented with sun-screen and/or skin-protecting clothes.

Minor Sunburn Treatment

Sunburn first aid is similar to minor burn treatment. The most important part of sunburn care is to assess the patient for dehydration and the severity of the burn.

Keep the skin cool- Use soft, cold compresses (like frozen gel-packs or a wet towel), and apply them to the burned area. This can ease the pain.

Drink a lot of water- Especially in Texas summer months, staying hydrated is a good idea regardless. When the skin is burned, the skin loses a percentage of its moisture. Drink plenty of water to keep the skin moist, as it will aid in faster, less painful healing.

Use Over-the-Counter Sprays and Creams- There are many products available at the local drug store for skin care, including for sunburn. Aloe Vera gels and creams help soothe the burn area. Sprays, like Solar Caine, may offer more relief if the skin feels too tender to touch.

When to See a Doctor

If a sunburn causes flu-like symptoms, the patient should seek care with their PCP or their local urgent care in Houston. Additionally, if the sunburn includes blisters on more than 20% of the patient’s body, the burn is technically a third-degree burn, and it requires medical attention.

Medical experts define a fever as an elevated body temperature, or anything over the accepted average human temperature change. The average adult body temperature is range is from 96.5 to 99.9. However, it is important to realize that certain fevers require the attention of a medical professional to assess and treat the underlying cause.

Fevers occur as a symptom of a wide range of conditions ranging from the ordinary- such as a cold, allergies, or the flu- to the severe- like meningitis and autoimmune disorders. Individuals with chroninc conditions like diabetes, cancer, RA, etc. should always monitor the duration and intensity of their fevers. Likewise, fever symptoms in infants, children, and the elderly should be closely monitored.


For most individuals, however,  fever is a symptom that can be managed at home or by a PCP. Some fevers, though, require prompt attention, and treatment for these fevers can be rendered via the nearest local urgent care center.

When to See Urgent Care for Pediatric Fever

Children are prone to illness, and often times, their pediatrician's office is not open on the weekends. Sometimes, a fever with the following chraracteristics cannot wait until a doctor's appointment to be assessed and treated:

  *   The fever is higher than 104 degrees Farenheight/40 degrees Celcius
  *   The fever has had a duration longer than 5 days
  *   The child is dehydrated and can not/will not drink water
  *   The child is disoriented
  *   The child is presenting with febrile seizure

It is important to remember that fevers are a common symptom of many pediatric illnesses, including seasonal viruses. In many cases, a physician may only be able to treat the symptoms, especially if the cause is viral. Your local urgent care may prescribe over-the-counter pain reliever to lower the fever, or if the child is dehydrated, they may receive IV fluids.

When to See Urgent Care for Adult Fever

Adults can experience fever with much of the same illnesses as children, namely viruses. Although an urgent care physician will not be able to prescribe medicien to treat the virus (antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections), they can treat fever symptoms with analgesics, IV fluids, and triage symptoms. Adults working on the weekdays often take advantage of an urgent care's services over the weekend for quick and convenient treatment. Adults should seek medical help if their fever symptoms sound like any of the following:

  *   The fever is higher than 103 degrees Farenheight/ 39.4 degrees Celcius
  *   The fever has had a duration of longer than 7 days
  *   The fever and associated symptoms worsen