Summertime Diseases to Look Out For
With summer well and truly upon us, most of us have started planning our beach trips, enjoying lazy afternoons in a pool or at a backyard barbecue. But with the fun and merry times come several diseases and illnesses that are especially common during the warmer weather and that keep our doctors on their toes even during the holiday season.
To know the diseases to protect yourself from during the summer weather and when to speak to a doctor online, read on:
Swimmer’s ear
Ear infections are fairly common during the summer months due to the amount of time we spend in the sea and in pools in attempts to cool off. Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear where water gets trapped in the ear canal and causes fungi and bacteria to breed, resulting in inflammation. It is very painful and in severe cases may need an antibiotic course to get rid of it. You may want to consider booking an appointment with an online GP if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Infection hasn’t cleared or is getting worse even after three to five days have passes - Inability to hear properly - A fever accompanying the earache - Intense itching - Excessive fluid draining - Severe pain that radiates to your face, neck or headFungal infections
Like ear infections, fungal infections are also fairly common and for the same reason. Fungus living on the floors of pool changing rooms, decks or communal bathrooms can make their way onto your skin when it comes in contact with these areas. Some common fungal infections that spread through swimming pools and hot tubs include athlete’s foot, swimmer’s foot and hot tub folliculitis.
If you’re experiencing, hot, red, itchy bumps or scaly skin on your feet, between the toes or under toenails, or near hair follicles hours or a few days after visiting a pool or hot tub, get in touch with one of our online doctors to get a prescription for antifungal medication or corticosteroid cream.
Sun stroke
Most often seen in children who have been playing outside for hours without hydrating enough or eating enough food, sun stroke often presents itself in the form of hot dry skin, swollen tongue, lethargy, being very tired and confused or having slurred speech, a fever above 40°C or dehydration. If you or your child is experiencing sun stroke, immediately visit the emergency room as untreated sun stroke can become more dangerous the longer it is left untreated. While waiting for help to arrive, take the affected person to a cool, covered area and attempt to bring their body temperature down. Give them small sips of water and take off any excess clothing that may be further contributing to their rise in temperature.
Food poisoning
Those backyard BBQ parties and sausage sizzles may be delicious, but they are also a major cause of food poisoning during the summer months. Leaving food out in the open while you go take a dip in the pool or reheating leftovers can contaminate the food with bacteria and viruses, which may cause stomach aches, diarrhea and vomiting or even a fever.
Get in touch with an online GP if you experience any of the above symptoms. Your doctor may recommend you to submit a stool sample to your nearest pathology to determine the cause of your food poisoning and recommend you a treatment plan both before and after the results are out.
Summer flu
Also the activity of the influenza virus is at its greatest during the colder months, many Australians also suffer from flu during the summer months. However, during the warmer weather, many other diseases are also confused with the flu due to the similarly in symptoms, such as the common cold, gastroenteritis, pneumonia or even bronchitis. Regardless of whether you actually have caught the flu or are experiencing flu-like symptoms, consider speaking to a doctor online if you have the following symptoms:
- High fever (over 39.4°C) - Coughing with green, yellow or brown mucus - Shortness of breath - Lightheadedness or dizziness - Vomiting - Chest pains - Unexplained rashes.Dehydration
The Australian summer sun is brutal, and can quickly leach out the water and fluids from your body, leading to a state of dehydration. Keeping yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water, hydrolyte, diluted fruit juice and avoiding alcohol, coffee and tea can greatly help you prevent dehydration. However, if you start feeling unwell or displaying symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, dark yellow or brown urine or extreme tiredness, get in touch with our online GP to get immediate help.
There’s no doubt that summertime is a time of partying and having fun. But taking care of yourself and getting the right attention when you need it can help you enjoy the season better. If you experience any of the above, don’t hesitate to book an online GP appointment with one of our expert doctors for a quick and hasslefree consultation.
