Summer time is here again. School classes have ended. It’s fun time for family and friends. Plans for a vacation are marked on the calendar. Beaches, island hopping and outdoor sports are tempting. Family members coming from abroad take advantage of this season to visit tourist spots, and enjoy bonding moments with relatives and friends. Summer is also when our islands abound in delicious fruit and seafood.
In addition to these blessings, hot summer weather brings potential health problems. We have to watch out for common summer diseases, which can dampen our enjoyment of a well-planned vacation. They can also put a hole in our pocket and use up precious time from our vacation for recuperation.
What are these summer diseases and how do we prevent them? What should we do to manage them? The 8 common summer diseases are as follows:
1. Heat stroke – can be fatal if left untreated. It can be avoided through limited amount of time spent outdoors, be wary of the hottest time of the day which is around 11am until 3pm.
2. Sun burn – the use of a sun block when walking outdoors, during swimming parties and outings is recommended.
3. Prickly heat or commonly known as “bungang-araw” – these itchy red rashes are borne out of hot and humid weather. Clogging of sweat glands can be another factor that induces it. It can be relieved by applying prickly powder or cornstarch. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
4. Food poisoning – due to the hot temperature, food can easily spoil. Place leftover viands inside the refrigerator. Foods should also be well cooked to keep it from spoilage. Inspect cooked food carefully before buying and make sure there are no bubbles on top. Bubbling most often indicates that food has turned bad. The smell can also tell if it’s still fit to be eaten.
5. Diarrhea – contaminated or unsafe drinking water and food, or too much eating, can cause indigestion and diarrhea. It is important to avoid dehydration in cases of diarrhea due to infection or indigestion. If diarrhea persists consult a doctor.
6. Sore eyes – the heat can make the eyes dry, combined with the dust and polluted smoke, lack of eye lubrication can result in a pink eye. The discharge from the eyes can infect others through hand contact.
7. Measles or “tigdas” and chicken pox or “bulutong” – are very common viral outbreaks during summer time. Make sure kids are vaccinated to prevent serious health complications. These are highly infectious diseases and can infect others too.
8. Dengue – in the Philippines, Dengue fever is an all year round disease carried by mosquitoes, and continues to rage in the metropolis and provinces.
Summer disease awareness, wearing light loose clothing and drinking plenty of water are the most important things for us to remember in order to keep us and our family safe and healthy as well as to take advantage and fully enjoy the activities that summer season offer. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, isn’t it?”
