Find out what diseases are most common in summer

In months with a lot of rain and cold, you can hear about an increase in the incidence of flu, colds, or even pneumonia. A runny nose, handkerchiefs in every pocket and an umbrella become an important part of everyday life. However, with the advent of summer and heat, some diseases are increasingly common in emergency rooms and sanatoriums.

Gastroenteritis and the most common symptoms, vomiting and diarrhea, stand out among the illnesses that are more common during the hotter months, he explains. morning Post doctor Paulo Almeida, General and Family Medicine Physician at USF Norton de Matos, Coimbra.

“Among the most common causes, we have the presence of bacteria in food, a significant increase in food and alcohol consumption, and eating food in poor condition,” explains the doctor.

This year, between July 21 and August 9, 187 cases of food poisoning were reported in the central region of the country associated with the consumption of cornbread bacteria in the product used in baking bread.

According to the doctor, “non-serious gastroenteritis” is most common in the summer and is treated at home with diet and plenty of fluids to combat dehydration.

Another very common disease during this period of great heat is allergies. Warming is associated with sun exposure, outdoor activities, and trips to the beach or pool, which ultimately leads to increased sun exposure. allergens outside, like pollen. Some of the symptoms of these seasonal allergies are runny nose, itchy watery eyes, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal congestion. “In less acute cases, taking antihistamines may be sufficient, but it is important to see a specialist to study the origin of the reaction,” the doctor says.

Conjunctivitis is also quite common this time of year and can be allergic or caused by viruses or bacteria, adds Paulo Almeida. The characteristic symptoms are “itching [comichão]inflammation and discharge from the eyes (purulent or not),” he explains. These symptoms usually last no more than a week. Being a highly contagious disease, conjunctivitis requires some care not to infect other people, such as frequent hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based gel.

Frequent sun exposure also increases the risk of sunburn. The doctor advises to apply the exposure gradually and “avoid the hours of greatest sun exposure, apply sunscreen and moisturize the skin.”

Otitis externa also has a particular predominance during the hottest months of the year and, according to Paulo Almeida, the most common cause is the accumulation of water in the ear after swimming in a pool or sea. “The moisture that remains in the ear promotes the growth of certain bacteria,” he explains. The doctor advises keeping “ears clean and dry by always wiping them with a towel after bathing or bathing and refraining from placing objects such as cotton buds or your own finger.”

Finally, Paul explains cm that “the summer also usually sees an increase in urinary infections, which are more common in women” due to “dehydration and increased humidity in the intimate area, which opens the door for the reproduction of microorganisms.” To prevent these infections, the doctor says it is important to drink plenty of water, always clean from the vagina to the anus, and wear cotton underwear. “When this infection is already confirmed, it is fought with antibiotics,” he concludes.