Ailments in season

CEBU, Philippines - The bright summer sun is out, and so are we!

Again, we become prone to prickly heat, food poisoning, heat stroke, sunburn and more ailments associated with the searing season as we go embracing the threshold of the great outdoors, either beachineering or trekking. However, that shouldn’t be stopping us from indulging, most especially when work/school holidays come only this stretched every time of the year, perfect to renew ties with family and friends.

Here’s a read-through on some common ailments when the temp is at its warmest, coupled with simple means to counter any serious situation, to prevent a summer break spoiler:

Prickly heat. This refers to red rashes that occur due to an excess of humidity and heat. Health experts say that prickly heat may be caused by clogging of the sweat glands. Onlymyhealth.com recommends application of cornstarch for the relief of prickly heat. Prickly heat powder applied on areas that show signs of prickly heat or in and around places that are likely to sweat more than the rest of the body would be most helpful.

Sunburn and measles. Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the Department of Health’s Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases warned the public of the expected rise of skin conditions during the hot months such as sunburn, prickly heat, and measles among children. He advised the beach buffs to continue using appropriate sunblock or sunscreen and to get away from the sun between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where radiation is at its strongest. As for measles (Rubeola or morbilli), this is a highly infectious viral disease causing fever and red rash on the skin. Complications include diarrhea, vomiting, eye infection, laryngitis and bronchitis, otitis media (inner ear infection and inflammation), and pneumonia. The only way to prevent this is through vaccination.

Heat stroke. It is defined by WebMD as the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency. It is also called sunstroke. Heat stroke often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), and heat exhaustion. But it can strike even if one has no previous signs of heat injury. Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures usually in combination with dehydration which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system. Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH’s Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases program manager, said that dehydration among adults was commonly observed during summer, adding that the public should drink plenty of water to avoid, in particular, heat stroke. He also said that heat stroke was not necessarily caused by direct exposure to sunlight since one could also suffer heat stroke while riding in a jeepney when the temperature was extremely high. So, he encouraged the public to always bring water and drink when thirsty “because that is the sign that you are already dehydrated.”

Food poisoning. This is an illness caused by bacteria or other toxins in food. The hot season encourages the proliferation of bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins from germs that affect the human body through contaminated food or water. Dr. Lee Suy advised the public to watch out for other food-and-water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A, and diarrhea, which are also common during the hot months. He suggested those going out for summer activities to bring food that do not easily spoil. He also said that people should eat lots of fruits as there is fluid in it and sugar in a way. As for drinking water, nothing beats boiled water when it comes to ensuring safety. (FREEMAN)