The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Beat summer ailments with simple steps

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Thursday, Feb 10, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Beat summer ailments with simple steps

Staff Reporter

Few simple measures can help sail through the summer unscathed: doctors

HYDERABAD: The mercury is rising gradually in the capital indicating the onset of summer.

Come March, the rising temperatures and excessive exposure to sun will trigger a host of ailments.

With temperatures set to consistently touch the 40 degree mark, doctors maintain that a few simple measures will help public sail through the summer unscathed.

Water-borne ailments

Summer in Hyderabad is notorious to cause water-borne diseases in large numbers.

Diseases like typhoid, cholera, jaundice, dysentery, gastro and diarrhoea are common.

Simple preventive steps like boiling water and avoiding consumption of stale food are best ways to avoid such diseases.

“If families can't boil water then they can put chlorine tablets in water. Chlorine tablets are available at all the urban health posts,” says Ranga Reddy District Medical Officer, Dr. Ch. Jaya Kumari.

In fact, health authorities of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts have already started devising summer action plan control the surge in water-borne ailments.

Conjunctivitis

Rising temperatures causes itching, burning and watering of the eyes.

Cases of red eye usually start to increase during the mango season.

The inflammation of the eye could be due to any type of allergens like air pollution and smoke.

Dry condition causes irritation and itching leading to red and swollen eyes. In some cases, construction dust is also known to cause conjunctivitis.

Chicken pox

The season for chicken pox is between January and May and is very common among children, especially those under the age of 11 years.

Mild fever, headaches, body aches, rashes on the skin of children are some of the symptoms of chicken pox. Doctors suggest complete best rest, seclusion and taking bland food and adequate amounts of water and fruits to get over chicken pox.

Heat strokes

By April and May, temperatures consistently cross the 40 degree mark. This causes severe dehydration of the body leading to heat strokes. “Heat strokes should not be taken lightly because it is a medical emergency. Public should avoid going out between 12 noon and 4 p.m.,” doctors suggest.

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