The evils of summer

The typical of the station. Preventing them is in our power if we follow some tips.

Food poisoning

In summer, those that usually cause diarrhea are frequent. The hygienic measures that should be considered to avoid them are:

• Thaw them.
• Avoid foods with mayonnaise, cream, sauces and creams if they are not properly prepared at home or are completely trustworthy.
• Before cooking or handling food, it is essential to handwashing.
• To drink bottled water and packaged milk (never in bulk).
• Endeavor to wash the fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Any cooked or perishable food must keep in the fridge or freezer until its consumption.
• If you eat in bars and restaurantsIt is not advisable to consume food exposed to the public outside of the protective cabinets, which have to be refrigerated if they contain perishable products.

Sunburn

• Reduce sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, that is, when its light is strongest.
• Use hat, long-sleeved shirt and pants when it is expected to be in the sun.
• The tight weave clothing to protect from the sun. There are textile fibers that let through much of their light.
• Apply a sunscreen cream or gel before each sun exposure, and apply it again every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
• A sunscreen with a protection factor is recommended (SPF) minimum of 15. The SFP that each patient should use depends on their skin type and the intensity of the solar radiation. Your dermatologist can tell you which SPF is best for you.
• These measures should also be taken in the cloudy days, since much of the solar radiation is still harmful in those days.
• Certain reflective surfaces such as sand or sea can cause excess exposure to light. To put on under an umbrella on the beach it may not be enough.
• The increased sensitivity to the sun (photosensitivity) can be a side effect of some medications. We must consult the doctor or pharmacist if we can expose ourselves to the sun when taking medications.
• Avoid tanning salons.
• Children of a few months old should not go to the sun. From 6 months they can start using sunscreens.
• Correct use of photoprotectors: apply at home, never on the beach or in the pool for at least 30 to 45 minutes before direct sun exposure, on dry skin and generously.

If the burn has already occurred ...

• Las (redness and heat on the skin) can be treated with the application of a moisturizing or cooling cream, or even a low potency topical corticosteroid, such as 1% hydrocortisone.
• More intense burns, with scalding, or blistering, should be valued by a doctor.

Heat stroke

High temperatures can cause serious health problems. Some advisable measures to fight heat stroke are:

• Drink fluids often (especially water) even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid drinking alcohol as it increases dehydration.
• Avoid walks and physical activity in the hottest hours. Especially the elderly, children and the chronically ill.
• Keep the cool house with the windows open but the blinds drawn.
• Use cotton garments fresh and light.

Athlete's foot

During the summer there are a series of ideal conditions for fungal skin infections. The most typical of all is that, which appears on the fingers and causes red, dry and flaky skin. Sometimes cracks or blisters may also appear. To avoid it:

• Wear flip flops or rubber shoes in swimming pools, saunas, gyms and public areas where you are in direct contact with moisture.
• Wear footwear that allows perspiration, if possible made of leather or natural materials.
• Never share towels or footwear.
• Daily hygiene of the feet, drying them carefully especially between the toes.

Chafing and blisters

To avoid them it is very important choose suitable footwear: comfortable, made of breathable and soft material, spacious and with a cushioning and flexible sole. In the event of a chafing, we must disinfect it and cover it with a dressing. It is very important, if you have a blister, do not tear off the skin, you have to let it come off on its own!

Stings

Scratching the place where the disease has occurred should be avoided, since doing so can injure the skin, allowing bacteria to penetrate and infect the wound.

• Mosquitoes: It is best to immediately apply a base (ammonia) that neutralizes or destroys the acid of the toxin to prevent swelling and itching.
• Bees: The stinger must be removed using sterile forceps or needles. As in mosquito bites, we can use a base (ammonia) that neutralizes or destroys the acid of the toxin to prevent swelling and itching from being triggered.
• Jellyfish: Do not rub the affected area with sand or a towel. It should not be cleaned with fresh water as it can facilitate the elimination of stinging substances. It should be washed with physiological saline or, failing that, with sea water. You can apply ice (not directly) in a bag to the area of ​​the bite and give antihistamines for the itch and pain relievers for the pain.
• Nettles: do not scratch or rub the affected area. Cool the area with water or apply ammonia to the affected area.

Certain bites can cause a very marked local inflammation that requires some additional treatment with topical corticosteroidsIn these cases, you should consult your doctor. If fever or swollen glands (lymph nodes) appear after a bite, you should always consult your doctor. In the case of an allergic reaction, you should go to a medical center.

Children and water: how to avoid risks

Especially in children they have to exercise extreme caution when bathing to avoid dangerous situations:

• Never leave the child without surveillance on the beach or in the pool even if he knows how to swim perfectly.
• Educate the child to respect the safety rules of the swimming pools and public baths.
• Teach him not to jump into the water abruptly after prolonged sun exposure or a large meal.
• The fact that they carry a float It does not mean that you do not need vigilance and caution.

If we go on a trip

If you spend your holidays away from your place of residence, it is advisable to take enough usual medication: analgesics, antidiarrheals, material for cures and antihistamines.

• In addition, if you are going to make a trip abroad it is necessary to consult the mandatory and recommended vaccinations in the destination country. To find out, you should go to the International Vaccination Centers that exist in the main cities of the peninsula.
• Food and drink are the main avenue for stomach or gastrointestinal diseases while traveling. In countries or places where there are no complete sanitary guarantees, Raw or undercooked vegetables and foods should be avoided, as well as non-bottled drinks, those containing ice cubes, ice cream, as well as the intake of tap water or natural sources. The following beverages may be safe: boiled water, hot beverages (tea, coffee) made with boiling water, carbonated or bottled beverages, beer, packaged juices, and wine. Ice can be made from contaminated water, so it should be avoided.
• Higher risk foods They can be salads, uncooked vegetables, fruit, unpasteurized milk and dairy products, raw or undercooked meat, and seafood.
• When it is inevitable to take non-bottled water, boil or use chemical disinfectants (iodine or chlorine).
• In case of contracting it, and to avoid dehydration of the patient, oral rehydration serums should be used already prepared (and properly packaged), or prepared by adding a level tablespoon of common salt and four well-filled tablespoons of sugar to a liter of water (bottled or treated water will always be used). It is important to mix the salts with the appropriate volume of water. Once prepared, this solution can be kept 12 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the refrigerator.

• When eating: wash food well, drink bottled water, store any cooked food in the fridge ...
• In the sun and heat: protect yourself with sunscreen, hats, glasses ...: hydrate well; wear fresh clothes; avoid outdoor activities in the hottest hours ...
• In swimming pools: wear flip flops and dry your feet well to avoid fungal infections.

Dra. Eva Ormaechea Alegre Intensive Medicine Specialist Advance Medica Consultant Physician