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Watch out when you eat out in summer

"Though I will not call it an epidemic, we have received several cases of people suffering from acute diarrhoea that needs immediate treatment," said Dr Mohammed Salman, from a Sharjah-based medical centre.

"People need to take extra care of what they eat, especially during summer. Food gets spoiled even if it is left out in the open only for a short while," he explained.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include severe abdominal cramps, vomiting and loose stools, sometimes laced with blood. "I would advise people to take care while eating in restaurants during this weather, especially raw vegetables since they go bad very quickly," advises Dr Salman.

Advising housewives, he said any food that has been defrosted should be used within a short time and should not be put in the freezer again. "I also advise people to take care of their hygiene, especially hand wash. People must try to avoid touching handles of public lavatories from where they could catch the virus," says Dr Salman.

If children are affected, Dr Salman advised parents to consult a physician immediately. "Since children lose body fluids at a faster rate due to vomiting and loose stool, it is necessary to administer glucose and feed them oral rehydration salts (ORS) immediately," he said.

Dr K. V. Antony, specialist paediatrician of Dr Antony's Medical Centre in Sharjah, said gastroenteritis cases increase during every summer. "I see at least five-six cases daily," he said.

"Gastroenteritis could be caused by a virus, bacteria or parasite. Only after a stool analysis, we can judge what was the cause, but during summer it is normally a viral infection," he explained. Following a sensible diet during summer can help avoid such diseases.

The symptoms may last from one to four days, depending on the severity of the disease and the immunity of the child. "If a child is severely dehydrated, he has to be administered intravenous fluid (IVF) and kept under observation," says Dr Antony.

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