1. Chicken pox: Ever wonder where this condition got its name? Well, that’s because the boils resembled the peck marks of a chicken, and the disease was christened ‘chicken pox’.
Caused by: The Varicella zoster virus
Seen right at the onset of summers, chicken pox manifests as itchy red rash like spots or boils all over the body, usually in children. Spread by air-borne particles, the disease spreads when an already infected person sneezes or coughs. Another mode of transmission is if a caregiver touches the blisters or the fluid oozing out of it.
Symptoms: Some of the first symptoms are fever, headache and sore throat. After about a day or two a rash like blister appears in a localized part of the body which will later spread to the entire body. The boils or blisters burst after about 2 days and once they crust over, the patient can resume their daily activities. Until then, it is important that the he/ she is kept in complete isolation and given a good amount of rest. It takes about 10 days for the body to recover from the illness. On the bright side, once you suffer from chicken pox you will not contract the disease again due to the natural immunity the first attack confers on you.
Precaution: There is a vaccine available to protect yourself against this virus. Even so, some simple precautions like washing your hands thoroughly after visiting a common or crowded place and to isolate a person suffering from the disease to prevent its spread can be exercised.
2. Measles: Also called rubeola or morbilli, it is a common condition seen in the summers.
Caused by: The paramyxo virus, it infects the lining at the back of the throat. It is transmitted the same way as chicken pox.
Symptoms: Its initial symptoms are high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and red eyes. These symptoms later progress to what’s called a measles rash (rashes that look like small red spots), fever, cough, runny nose and tiny white spots within the mouth. The measles rashes usually appear 3-5 days after the initial symptoms and start around the hairline and face in most cases.
Precaution: The MMR vaccine (Measels, Mumps and Rubella) usually given to all children is highly efficient in preventing the disease from occurring.
3. Typhoid: Commonly known as typhoid fever, it is a water borne disease passed on through the oro-feacal route.
Caused by: A bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Passed on by the oro-feacal route, the bacterium is commonly found in unsanitary food or water sources.
Symptoms: Its common symptoms include high fever, fatigue, weakness, pain in the abdomen, headache, loss of appetite, and sometimes a rash. Once treated a person can still carry the bacteria but not suffer from the disease. These people are called ‘carriers’ and often are the cause for further spread of the virus.
Prevention: There are two types of vaccines available to protect you against typhoid. One is a vaccine that uses the killed bacteria, and is injected into a person. The second is the attenuated or weakened bacterium that is administered in the form of medicine or a pill.
4. Mumps: Is an extremely contagious viral disease. It is known to occur mainly in children during peak summer.
The mumps virus, it is transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms: One of the most common symptoms is the swelling up of the person’s salivary glands at the base of the neck. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands.
Precautions: The MMR vaccine (Measels, Mumps and rubella) can help protect you from contracting the disease.
5.Prickly heat or commonly known as “Bungang Araw”: these itchy red rashes are borne out of hot and humid weather. Clogging of sweat glands can be another factor that induces it. It can be relieved by applying prickly powder or cornstarch. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
6. Food poisoning :due to the hot temperature, food can easily spoil. Place leftover viands inside the refrigerator. Foods should also be well cooked to keep it from spoilage. Refrain from buying your food in carinderias or inspect carefully before buying, make sure there are no bubbles seen on top it. Bubbling most often indicate that food has turned bad. The smell can also tell if it’s still fit to be eaten.
7. Heat stroke: can be fatal if left untreated. It can be avoided through limited amount of time spent outdoors, be wary of the hottest time of the day which is around 11am until 3pm.
8. Dengue: in the Philippines, Dengue fever is an all year round disease carried by mosquitoes, and continues to rage in the metropolis and provinces.
9. Sore eyes: the heat can make the eyes dry, combined with the dust and polluted smoke, lack of eye lubrication can result to a pink eye.
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