Common ailments to watch out for as summer kicks in

As the weather temperature continues to rise, the 6S or six illnesses of summer are not far behind.

Diarrhea and vomiting, sore eyes or conjunctivitis, sunburn, skin diseases, cough and colds, and rabies are the six common ailments that Filipinos must watch out for in the next two-to-three months.

With lots of people heading to the beach or the swimming pool, they may accidentally drink water that is infected with the E.Coli bacteria which comes from fecal matter that contaminates the water source, thus, causing nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Poorly chlorinated swimming pools may also cause sore eyes or conjunctivitis when the virus enters through the eyes.

Such prolonged exposure to the sun without proper protection against the harmful Ultraviolet rays may, likewise, cause sunburn – that painful, itchy, irritated patch of skin that often peels off. When combined with dehydration, overexposure may lead to heat stroke.

Summer also causes skin diseases to come out such as the tan, scaly patches caused by yeast infection which thrives in moist parts of the skin; infected bug bites and contact dermatitis while camping and hiking; and whitish, translucent bumps called molluscum which thrives in under-chlorinated water, among others.

Cough and colds, while may cause discomfort anytime of the year, tend to linger in the summer while the number of dog bites also increases as dogs become irritable due to the heat and children spend more time playing outdoors.

Dr. Ma. Gia Grace Sison, Chief Medical Officer of KonsultaMD 24/7 health hotline, said that with the health risks involved, everyone must be prepared.

“We encourage the public to be aware of the possible symptoms of the summer illnesses and be proactive about it. If ever we still contract the disease, we should also know what steps to take,” Sison said.

While people often turn to the internet, family, and friends for medical advice, Sison said it would be better to talk personally to a doctor to verify any information that they get.

Consulting a doctor, however, can be costly and time-consuming, thus, KonsultaMD was created by Globe Telecom and Mexico’s leading healthcare hotline company Salud Interactiva, to help Filipinos who are being held back by the issues of time, affordability, and accessibility.

Licensed doctors of KonsultaMD hotline can be reached by simply calling (02) 79880 via mobile or (02) 798-8000 via landline anytime and anywhere. The doctors are willing to answer any medical query such as pregnancy, infant and/or toddler care, fever and other general ailments, signs and symptoms, diet, mental health, and other concerns.

KonsultaMD is available to Globe and TM customers at affordable subscription plans of only Php150 per month for five people for Postpaid customers or even for free for Platinum Elite members. Globe Prepaid and TM customers may subscribe for Php15 a week, Php60 a month, Php120 every two months or Php180 a quarter.

Calls using Globe or TM are charged Php1 per minute while calls within Metro Manila via landline are currently free. Non-Globe users have to pay the standard NDD rate for calls outside Metro Manila or regular mobile to landline rate, whichever is applicable.