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Summer brings more than warmth and family vactions

By Amanda Glatfelter

With summer sun and fun also comes seasonal illnesses and diseases. Although most people point fingers to winter as the season of sickness, the warm months also spew plenty of germs.

The summer months offer more sun and heat-related illnesses, according to Eileen Guttman, the interim director of the CSU Health and Wellness Services. Injuries from summer sports also tend to rise, she said.

Bug bites and food poisoning are also among the list of summer sicknesses.

Mosquito bites can lead to West Nile encephalitis and dengue fever, whereas tick bites can escalate to Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, according to the Web site about.com.

Insect-related illnesses are preventable, though. Wearing long sleeves and pants when in heavily wooded areas can ward off ticks; and bug spray can keep mosquitoes at bay.

Medication is also available to ward off malaria. The medication is meant to be preventative, and is taken when one might be exposed to the disease, said Guttman.

Food poisoning and other food-related illnesses run rampant during the hot months of the year. Bacteria love warmth and, therefore, love summer. Due to picnics and cookouts, food poisoning rates rise rapidly, according to the Web site about.com.

The number of food poisoning cases can be reduced, too. Most food-borne illnesses can be avoided by washing your hands, keeping kitchen utensils clean, cooking food to the proper temperatures and putting leftovers in the fridge.

Many people travel abroad during the summer. Travelers can avoid contracting illnesses in foreign countries by simply remaining up to date with certain vaccinations.

Many factors determine what vaccinations a traveler will need.

Past immunizations, medical conditions and pregnancy, the travel destination, the length of time being spent at that destination are some of the factors to be taken into account while deciding the type of vaccinations, according to the Web site patients.uptodate.com.

The vaccine for yellow fever, however, is required by law to visit certain countries, according to the site. Yellow fever will cause swelling of the liver, and is sometimes fatal.

The vaccine for Cholera, a type of bacterial infection, also may be required for entering certain countries. However, this immunization is not too effective, with only a 70 percent success rate.

And don’t think you’re safe from the needle only because your family vacation doesn’t take you out of the United States.

“Just because you’re not traveling doesn’t mean you’re not at risk here,” Guttman said. Many people don’t remain up to date with their tetanus vaccinations, but should definitely do so, according to Guttman.

Vaccinations including the tetanus shot are available at the CSU Health and Wellness Center, according to Guttman.

The immunizations are offered at an inexpensive price, and therefore give students even more reason to remain up to date on their healthcare.