Summer

The onset of summer has often been referred to as the doctor’s season with enormous number of people falling sick.

The sudden change in temperature results in the outbreak of several diseases and infections, say city physicians and paediatricians.

Change in temperature is the root cause of viral fever. “Especially in the mid-February, people get body ache, throat infection, sneezing, gastroenteritis, skin-related problems since around this time there is a sudden change in temperature, especially in southern India.

People sometimes develop asthma due to the hot and dry temperature and pollen from flowers infects the eyes too

As a precautionary measure “One should be very hygienic, especially during this season.

One should drink plenty of clean water and fluids, fresh cooked food is preferred over street open foods.

Covering one’s head while going out helps prevent heat stroke”.Children, especially with both working parents, are among the worst affected during the season. Diarrhoea, fever and upper respiratory track infection are among the major diseases, that children complain of.

Keeping children away from roadside food and allowing them to have plenty of boiled water and home made juices would help prevent dehydration and constipation among children.

Skin infection is yet another problem that crops up during this particular summer season. Fungal infection, prickly heat (miliaria rubra), excess sweat, acnes and sun burns, are among the major skin related diseases that crop up once the summer starts.

Cotton clothes are better than synthetic ones. Taking bath with lukewarm water, and increase in the intake of liquids and leafy vegetables could be followed to prevent all skin related infections during the summer.

Common ailments Acute dehydration leading to headache, bodyache and fever Heat strokes, sun burns Stomach infection (gastroenteritis) Oral diseases, mostly cold, cough and respiratory ailments Jaundice and typhoid Eye infection Drying of skin

Precautions Increase in liquid intake Be fully covered in sun Avoid eating out at unhygienic places Avoid drinking water outside. Even at home stick to boiled water.

Avoid intake of alcohol.Do not shock your throat and body by exposing to extreme temperatures Wearing light coloured clothes preferably cotton clothes.