With temperatures crossing 35 degrees Celsius on a daily basis, dehydration is the most common summer feature to hit people. Dehydration can manifest in different ways ranging from giddiness and exhaustion to even shock. To manage dehydration people drink contaminated water and get infected by different water born diseases.
Typhoid
Typhoid fever is also known as enteric fever, or commonly just typhoid. Typhoid is caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. It is a water borne disease that easily spreads through contaminated food and water supplies. It’s common symptoms include high fever, fatigue, and weakness, pain in the abdomen, headache, loss of appetite, and sometimes rashes. Stool and blood culture test, or a test named widal test can confirm the diagnosis. Typhoid is treatable with specific antibiotics. Typhoid fever can be prevented through proper sanitation and hygiene. There are two types of vaccines available to protect you against typhoid.
Jaundice
Actually it should be called Hepatitis A. It is a water-borne disease caused mainly by contaminated water supplies and food cooked in unclean places. Jaundice is a symptom of hepatitis, which is caused by the Hepatitis A virus. This virus affects the liver causing over-production of bile, and the affected people present with the initial symptoms of jaundice include yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of the eyes, light-colored stools, dark-colored urine, and itching of the skin.
Mild cases of hepatitis A don’t require treatment, and most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage. A vaccine is available, but to protect yourself better. Practicing good hygiene — including washing your hands often — is one of the best ways to protect against hepatitis A.
UTI
Preventing urinary tract infections during the summer months is very important. Your chances of developing urinary tract infection symptoms are high, because during the summer months you are more likely to become dehydrated, and drinking less water to flush out your bladder is the perfect condition that causes bacteria to grow and thrive in your bladder.
To prevent UTI, the easy way is to have Eight Glasses Of Water a day. Water flushes bacteria out of your bladder so it doesn’t have a chance to multiply and does not cause the painful symptoms associated with urinary tract infections.
Summer migraine
It’s a type of headache. In summer many are affected by migraine and giddiness. This type of headache is caused by exposure to the naked, hot sun without any protection for your head, and giddiness and dryness of throat due to dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids and carry an umbrella in your outdoor journey.
Diarrhoea
The permanent state of water scarcity also causes an increase in watery diarrhoea cases. In summer, the water will not have the same purity as the normal water we consume. A diet, filled with boiled and cooled water and fruits is prescribed to avoid summer diarrhoea. People should drink plenty of fruit juices, coconut water, a liberal amount of water and water filled fruits like watermelon.
Anything to cool down the body and keep you hydrated hygienically should be ensured. People should drink only boiled and cooled water, or have a reverse osmosis plant or water filter at home. Foods that shorten a diarrhoea episode are: rice, bananas, apple stew, potatoes and carrots. Yoghurt not only prevents diarrhoea but also helps in its treatment. The bacteria in yoghurt produce acids that make the environment unfavourable for the infectious bacteria.
Food poisoning
Food poisoning is more prevalent in warmer weather. First, there are the natural causes. Bacteria are present throughout the environment in soil, air, water, and in the bodies of people and animals. These microorganisms grow faster in the warm summer months.
Most foodborne bacteria grow fastest at temperatures from 90°F-110°F. Bacteria also need moisture to flourish, and summer weather is often hot and humid. Given the right circumstances, harmful bacteria can quickly multiply on food to large numbers. When this happens, someone eating the food can get sick. Food poisoning can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and may be quite serious for children and older people.
To prevent food poisoning the measures to be taken are:
Get food home quickly. Don’t leave hot foods to completely cool before refrigerating. Don’t overfill your fridge. Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods within two hours of purchasing or preparing them. Store the leftovers in refrigerator immediately.Moreover, if you get sick due to summer illness, first try with home remedies like oral saline for diarrhoea, paracetamol for fever and anti emetics for vomiting.
Then consult with your physician. Never delay to attend in emergency room of a hospital if you already have severe vomiting, diarrhoea and high fever.
