The arrival of summer leaves us yearning for water and shade as seasonal ailments tag along. Doctors share tips on how to stay safe this summer.
Common seasonal ailments like prickly heat, heat rash and boils, dermatitis, pollen allergy due to the dry weather, viral infections like chickenpox, measles, mump and, bacterial skin infection like impetigo due to heat and unhygienic condition occur when summers are unforgiving.
The common cause for such ailments zero down to dehydration–loss of water, the doctors warn.
One must drink ample amounts of water everyday to avoid dehydration, according to Government Rajaji Hospital Dean A. Rathinavel.
Seconding the statement, Dr. R. Ponraj, MD General Medicine, assistant professor, Madurai Medical College, says, “It is safe to carry water bottles from home rather than consuming sub-standard quality of water from outside. It is advisable to keep sipping water every hour.”
Generally during summers, one must ensure to take upto five litres of water even if one remains indoors.
In cases of severe dehydration, one can mix Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS), with water, which is easily available at pharmacies and government hospitals, or water with a pinch of salt, says Dr. Sooriyakumar, MD, retired professor of medicine, Government Theni Medical College.
“One can take chill water after relaxing for a minute under shade. Setting the air conditioner temperature at 24 to 25 degrees to ensure that one doesn’t sweat is optimum,” he suggests.
Step-out only if necessary
Dr. A. Rathinavel suggested that one must avoid venturing out from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“People who are engaged in intense outdoor physical activities are prone to suffer from sunburn, heat cramps and muscle tightness due to loss of salt and excessive heat,” Dr. Sooriyakumar says.
Sunscreens should be your best friend in battling against the harmful Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
“Applying sunscreen lotions with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) more than 30 is recommended. Nowadays, lotions with SPF 50 are also available,” Dr. Ponraj says.
Dr. A. Srinivasan, Block Medical Officer, Thadikombu near Dindigul, urges using UV protected sunglasses while out in the sun. He recommends wearing light and pastel-coloured cotton or linen clothes that absorb less heat, thus helping maintain body temperature.
As basic as it sounds, it is still important to bathe every day and wear clean clothes to prevent skin infections, they all add.
For children, doctors advise restricting playtime to early morning and after 4 p.m.. For infants, switching to cloth diapers helps to avoid skin rashes, they say.
Eat right
Doctors advise avoiding spicy foods as they cause stomach ulcer, burning sensation in the chest, gastroenteritis etc.
Having plenty of fruit juices, buttermilk and tender-coconut water are recommended.
But they also warn against consumption of juices and cool drinks that are prepared in unhygienic conditions. Consumption of such unsafe drinks and contaminated water can trigger diarrhoea and other conditions affecting digestion.
“Due to excessive heat, the perishability level of vegetables, fruits etc. will significantly reduce, hence eating more home-cooked food is suggested,” Dr. Sooriyakumar says.
Published - April 07, 2022 06:38 pm IST
