The summer is in full swing and its holiday season for all school goers.A wide variety of summer vegetables and fruits make their appearance. These days, entire families travel out for the holidays and all enjoy eating outside. No doubt, the change from routine does wonders for the entire family. Doing things together is the best form of bonding for all in the family, young and old alike!
Infection Alert!!
This is the season for the spread of water and food borne infections. These can wreck havoc on your gastrointestinal system, as the poor hygiene as well as low sanitation conditions allow the proliferation of disease organisms. These may be-
- Bacteria like Shigella, Salmonella,E.Coli, Cholera etc
- Viruses like adenovirus, enterovirus,rotavirus,hepatitis virus, astrovirus, norovirus to name a few.
- Parasites like giardia, amoeba ,Cysticerca etc
- Helmenths like tapeworm, pinworm etc
Some Symptoms
Watch for the classic symptoms of infection which can include the following:
- Loose watery stools, stomach pain,vomiting
- Fever, malaise, body pain
- Dehydration, poor appetite
- Abdominal distension
- Jaundice
Prevention
Good personal hygiene is the key to prevention of gastrointestinal disorders. Thorough hand washing before touching food before preparation as well as before eating are important to break the cycle of transmission.
REMEMBER:
- Thorough hand washing before food cooking
- Wash your hands before eating
- Wash the vegetables , fruits and meat thoroughly before cutting, cooking or eating
- Avoid eating cut fruits from the roadside
- Avoid eating street food, especially where water is used in plenty
- Eat thoroughly cooked, and freshly cooked food.
- Avoid leaving food uncovered, as dust and germs can settle down easily.
- Drink plenty of clean water
ENJOY THE SUMMER, STAY SAFE