In a message dated 7/14/06 11:20:06 AM,  writes:


> Doxycycline is one of the tetracycline class of antibiotics. One of the 
> main
> side-effects of concern to the birding community is that it increases
> sensitivity to sunlight and the risk of sunburn.
> 
The risk is far more than simply sunburn.

Years ago a dermatologist had me on long term tetracycline. No one warned me 
about sun sensitivity. We were sailors & I spent most of the summer in the 
sun. After one too many days in the sun I developed a severe allergy to the 
tetracycline & ended up in the hospital on IV cortisone. My airways were almost 
totally blocked. I later developed an allergy to penicillin & ended up in the 
hospital once again. These drug allergies have caused problems when I've needed 
treatment for things such as Lyme. Finding a proper alternative drug is not 
always that simple & they are usually very expensive. 

I don't think it is a good idea to depend solely on sunblocks if one is 
taking any tetracycline related drug. Use the strongest sunblock available, wear a 
long sleeved shirt, long pants & a hat with a wide brim. I was lucky, at the 
time I had the reactions I lived within 1/2 mile of a hospital. I hate to think 
what the result would be if it happened now, it is more than 1/2 hour to the 
hospital from where I now live.

When out in the field, wear double socks with long pants tucked between the 
socks, wear a long sleeved shirt & cover your head. Duranon is a long lasting 
(2 weeks) repellent that you spray on your clothing when you are not wearing 
it. I even spray my boots & hats. Not only is it a repellent, it kills ticks & 
mosquitos. When I've gotten ticks, it has been because I was not taking the 
above precautions. There are now garments made by Buzz Off which even ward off 
the dreaded black-fly. I can attest to that after using a Buzz Off scarf while 
birding in Maine & Canada & not getting any black-fly bites.

Be careful, it's a jungle out there!

Sigrid Stiles
Dameron, MD
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