Dealing with Common Summer Diseases
Summer is here. And along with the heat comes a variety of diseases. It’s a good thing that with the increasing number of drugstores in the Philippines, it has become easy to find the right medicine for any disease that come around in the extreme heat of summer.
But medication shall only be a backup plan. The first plan is to take preventative measures against any sort of sickness.
Here are some common summer diseases and what can be done to avoid contracting them.
Sore Eyes. In the Philippines, we call it sore eyes, but in most countries it’s called pink eye. The medical term is conjunctivitis, where the outer part of the eyeball and the innermost surface of the eyelid become inflamed. The most common cause for pink eye is viral infection, although bacteria and allergies can also trigger it.
When a person’s eye is infected with the pink eye, the white part takes on a pinkish or reddish hue. It is often accompanied with pain, itchiness, a burning sensation, and increased discharge of fluid from the infected eye. Most symptoms show up within two to three days after contraction, and the pink eye can last up to two weeks.
Hand-washing with soap and water before touching the face or eyes can help a lot to avoid this pesky infection. Objects that are used on the face and eyes such as towels, makeup tools, glasses, and contact lenses should be cleaned regularly and not shared with others.
Upset Stomach. Diarrhea is something that can be contracted any time of the year, but summertime increases the probability. This is due to the hot temperatures causing food to spoil faster when not stored properly. Every time someone consumes food that is spoiled or contaminated by harmful bacteria, diarrhea and food poisoning are almost always the sure outcomes.
The main symptom of diarrhea is obviously having loose and watery bowel movements. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and discomfort in the abdominal area. Treatment can be done by letting the body to discharge the bacteria that cause it – basically, to just ride it out. Drinking a lot of water is advised as diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
It is, therefore, important to ensure that food preparation is clean, tidy, and safe. And that food is stored properly. Proper hand-washing also helps.
Sunburn. Being one of the most common conditions that a person can acquire during summer, extreme sunburn can be risky due to its potential to cause skin cancer or melanoma. Sunburn can result from direct, prolonged, and unprotected exposure to sunlight. The obvious sign of sunburn is, if after exposure to sunlight, the skin turns red.
Reddening of the skin with eventual peeling is a sign of having a first-degree burn. The pain that come with it can be reduced by having cold baths and regular application of moisturizer or lotion. If there are blisters around the sunburned area, one shall seek medical attention because this is a sign of second-degree burn.
As much as possible, sunburn shall be prevented by not going out in the sun unprotected, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., because this is the time when the UV rays of the sun is at its peak. It is important to rub on sunblock lotion with SPF 30 minutes before going out in the sun to protect the skin and prevent subsequent UV damage. Wearing caps, hats, sunglasses, and other clothing items that can help prevent direct sun exposure on the skin helps as well.
Treating an ailment or condition can be quite a hassle and costly. With the right prevention techniques, one can avoid a lot of pain, discomfort, and expenses.