5 Common Summer Ailments and How to Treat Them

It’s time for some fun in the sun! To ensure a happy and enjoyable summer break, it’s important to arm yourself with the proper protection, prevention, and treatment against summer’s common illnesses.

Christine Caringal, M.D., pediatrician from the National Kidney Institute, says some diseases are common during the hottest months simply because you spend more time outdoors and in public places. Diarrhea is one common problem during the summer. “This is because families often go on out-of-town trips, where sometimes, the drinking water is not clean or sterilized. And when the family returns home, some get a bad case of diarrhea,” she says.

SUNBURN

 Our bodies contain melanin which protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunburn occurs when your body cannot naturally protect itself from the rays of the sun. The darker you are, the lesser your chances of getting a bad burn, says Dr. Caringal. However, everyone must protect themselves from the sun’s harsh rays no matter the skin tone.

UV rays are strongest during the summer season, most especially here in our country as we are located near the equator. Hence, we need more sun protection.

Symptoms: Did you know that a few minutes of sun exposure can burn your child’s skin? In fact, even hours after being out in the sun, your little one might still feel warm to the touch. “This is because the skin is still reacting to the sun exposure,” says Dr. Caringal. Sunburn usually starts with some redness of the skin, after which the skin begins to itch. After a few days, the burnt skin will start to peel and shed.

Prevention: “Avoid sun exposure especially between 10 a.m. to 12 n.n.,” says Dr. Caringal. Use a sunblock with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 and with protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Slather on sunblock at least 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow it to be absorbed by the skin and to form a protective layer on the skin. Remember to reapply at least every two hours, depending on how much time your child will be under the sun and how intense its rays are.

Sunblock may be used by children as young as six months. Always make sure to choose one that is formulated for kids. Dr. Caringal recommends putting on sunblock and protective clothing even while inside a car, especially if you’re planning to take a long road trip. And always keep your child hydrated!

Treatment: After a long day under the sun, one way to soothe the burning is to put a cold compress on the skin. Use emollients or thick lotions to help ease the burning and itchiness,  says Dr. Caringal. If the peeling is causing too much pain or discomfort, painkillers or pain relievers may be given to lessen the pain. Don’t let your child peel off his sunburn as this may lead to an infection.

Bring your child to the doctor if he develops fever, skin blistering, nausea, and dizziness, as these may be related to a more serious illness.

 

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PRICKLY HEAT

 “Prickly heat is more of an irritation,” says Dr. Caringal. “Dust and exposure to sunlight may trigger this skin condition. Once you start to itch and scratch, it may worsen and spread further.”Prickly heat occurs when the body experiences too much heat and the sweat cannot escape from your sweat glands, creating an irritation on the skin that causes the rashes to form. Extremely hot weather aggravates prickly heat.

Symptoms: Small red bumps or rash-like growths that are both itchy and stingy appear on the skin. Bungang araw usually emerges on the neck, back, armpits, and warm creases and folds of the body.

Prevention: To prevent bungang araw, always keep the body dry by wiping sweat off and changing into clean, dry clothing as often as possible. This helps minimize friction on the body, and eases itchiness and scratching that can spread and worsen the rashes.

Treatment: Cooling prickly heat powder or gawgaw sprinkled on the rash soothes itchiness and redness.

LICE

 “It’s not true na kapag naaarawan ang bata, nagkakakuto,” reveals Dr. Caringal. “Lice is a contamination. It’s an organism that sucks the blood of the host.” Highly transmittable, “It’s possible for the lice to ”jump” from one person to another,” warns Dr. Caringal. “It’s not because the child is not hygienic. Usually, exposure to someone with lice can get a child infected.” 

Symptoms: Itchiness of the scalp, redness along the hairline, and irritation of the skin are some signs a child may have lice. Dr. Caringal cautions that bathing or using ordinary shampoo cannot remove the lice. “Once you see your child scratching his head, inspect it already,” she advises.

Prevention: While you can neither monitor each and every kid your child plays with nor isolate him from his friends, preventing lice can be a bit tricky. In fact, lice are not only a common problem in children; they may also affect adults, such as your child’s yaya or other companions. Just make sure to practice proper personal hygiene among family members and housemates.

Treatment: For lice infestation, use a special shampoo formulated to kill lice and nits (lice eggs).

 

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SORE EYES

 Medically known as conjunctivitis, sore eyes are commonly caused by an allergic reaction to irritants, by a virus or by bacteria. 

Allergy-caused sore eyes are more common in the summer. This is because the environment is drier and dustier, so the wind easily carries the irritants in the air, causing our eyes to get irritated. Compared to allergen-caused sore eyes, virus- and bacteria-caused sore eyes are usually passed on from person to person.

“When a person with sore eyes touches something that you also touched, and you rub your eyes, you might get it,” says Dr. Caringal. 

Symptoms: Sore eyes usually make the eyes red and itchy. However, those brought about by a virus or bacterial infections usually cause the eye to get teary and crusty, or what is more colloquially known as “nagmumuta.”

Prevention: Since sore eyes can be passed on easily just by touching an infected object, always keep your hands clean. And avoid rubbing your eyes!

Treatment: An eye doctor may prescribe an eye ointment or drops for virus and bacteria-caused sore eyes; and a prescription for anti-allergy medicine may be given for allergy-caused sore eyes. A warm, wet cotton ball may be applied to the eye to lessen the crustiness and ease the itchiness.

CHICKEN POX

 Chicken pox is a disease caused by a virus known as varicella zoster, which causes many different-sized, red blisters or lesions to form and appear on a person’s body. A person can be a carrier of this virus without falling sick from it. He can also unknowingly spread the virus to other people. 

A person carrying the chicken pox virus, but whose symptoms have not yet appeared is already infectious. This is why individuals who suspect exposure to a person with chicken pox are advised to isolate themselves for a few days to avoid spreading the virus. Once the spot appears, a person with chicken pox is infectious from seven to 14 days. It’s a misconception to think that you are only infectious when the lesions are healing or the scabs are falling off. Local beliefs also discourage taking a bath when one has chicken pox because “bawal mahanginan.” All are not true, says Dr. Caringal.

Chicken pox is commonly spread during the summer season because children usually spend a lot of time together. It can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and talking.

Symptoms: Symptoms are very similar to the flu. “Fever, body weakness, muscle pains are some of its symptoms,” Dr. Caringal says. “It usually begins with a solitary lesion that you may take for granted and disregard as an ordinary pantal,” she points out. “Usually, an initial spot will appear, then the other symptoms will follow. Since kids are malikot, sometimes hindi mo mapapansin na may spot na pala.” The fever, sore throat, and muscle pains follow soon after. The itchiness usually lasts for three to four days, and then scabs start to form and the dried blisters fall off on their own.

Prevention: Chicken pox may be avoided by getting a vaccine or staying away from people who are infected by the virus.

Treatment: While there are medicines available to minimize the severity of the chicken pox, most doctors advise to just let the disease run its course. “The most common practice is to not take anything because it’s a virus. You only take medicine for the fever or body pain, and an antihistamine for the itch. Sometimes, the problem is the itch, especially with young children who cry [due to the discomfort],” says Dr. Caringal. Never scratch a blister as it may lead to infection and scarring.

 

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A stinging issue

 What about jellyfish or sea urchin stings and sand mites bites? Dr. Caringal points out that parents need not worry much about these as these “are more common in young adults than in children” who take part in more active water activities such as snorkeling and diving. Stings from these sea creatures usually take place in areas that are not as accessible to children such as deep water. Parents, Dr. Caringal says, should be more concerned about water safety.

However, in the event that your child gets a jellyfish or sea urchin sting, Dr. Caringal advises, “First, you have to wash it out. Then take an antihistamine and put topical creams to ease the pain of the sting.”
Sand mites, on the other hand, are shed by jellyfish and are usually washed ashore. These sand mites contain irritants that cause itchiness and redness. They usually plant themselves in the seams and creases of clothes and swimsuits. Sand mites release allergens that irritate the skin.

If you think your child has been bitten by sand mites, make sure to rinse off as soon as you can, and give antihistamine, as it is very similar to an allergic reaction only.

Pool precaution

Dr. Caringal warns of diseases in public places, particularly in swimming pools and resorts. Aside from the usual infections that can make one sick such as a cold, you must also beware of skin irritations that are infectious in origin. One such type is impetigo, a skin disease wherein small blisters containing a yellowish liquid appear on the body caused by a streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria and may be spread easily. 
Dr. Caringal warns that having a small cut or wound while being exposed to someone infected makes one more prone to catching the infection from that person. To avoid catching infectious diseases in public pools and resorts, always practice proper hygiene. Wash hands with soap and water, and wipe hands dry to keep the bacteria at bay. Damp and moist areas are breeding grounds for bacteria and disease.

Another disease that is easily spread during the summer, especially in public pools and resorts is amoebiasis, a form of gastroenteritis that is caused by an amoeba. The amoeba is the agent that causes gastroenteritis, leading a person to have a stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

Drinking water from an unknown source and eating food that is prepared in an unsanitary environment or made by a person who is a carrier or is infected by amoebiasis are some of the major factors in the spread of gastroenteritis. One way to prevent and avoid gastroenteritis is to bring your own bottled water. Also remind your family members to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet.

An ounce of prevention for a load of summer fun

There are simple ways to prevent getting sick this summer and it all begins with proper hygiene, a balanced diet of nutritious food, and an awareness of one’s surroundings. There is no need to worry about being out in public or being exposed to the elements when one is armed with a head full of knowledge on how to stay healthy and safe.

Source:

• Christine Caringal, M.D., pediatrician, National Kidney Institute, Quezon City

Photo by emrank via flickr creative commons