Summertime is the season for outdoor activities. While hiking wooded trails or swimming at the beach, keep warm weather illnesses in mind. This sunny time of year increases your risk for assorted illnesses and infections, detailed below.

Summer Illnesses to Be Aware Of

1. Insect-Borne Illnesses

Mosquitoes and ticks transmit diseases through their bites. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from ticks can prove fatal if not treated; symptoms include red eyes, rash, vomiting, headache, and muscle pain. Lyme disease spread by deer ticks currently has no cure, but can be managed with medication and healthy lifestyle choices. Mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus and dengue fever among others.

2. Food Poisoning

Warm temperatures provide a breeding ground for bacteria. Meat left outdoors during barbecues is more likely to harbor bacteria, which only increases when people cook outside and don’t wash their hands. The symptoms of food poisoning and food-borne illnesses from contaminated meat, dairy, and other products include diarrhea and vomiting.

3. Waterborne Illnesses

Waterborne illnesses result from exposure to bacteria in lakes, rivers, and the ocean. E.coli, the norovirus, and enteroviruses are among the most common illnesses spread through swimming in water contaminated with fecal matter. Common symptoms of these infections include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

4. Heat-Related Illnesses

Exposure to hot temperatures for long durations without proper hydration interferes with the body’s ability to cool itself. Less blood subsequently reaches the brain, organs, and muscles, resulting in cramps, disorientation, and fatigue. Heat stroke can be fatal without treatment.

5. Whooping Cough

A common summer camp illness, whooping cough spreads easily through bacteria that invades the nose and throat. Symptoms include dry coughing, runny nose, sneezing, low fever, and diarrhea. It is most dangerous to infants and small children whose immune systems are not fully developed.

Kona-Kohala Health Care Services in Kailua-Kona, HI, features a team of board-certified physicians ready to treat a comprehensive variety of illnesses, including those common in the summertime. Dr. Donald Nikaitani and Dr. Richard Pekala provide flu shots, preventative screenings, blood work, and many other services in a soothing, patient-focused environment. Call (808) 329-1346 to schedule an appointment, and visit the website for more information about the practice.