The Primary Pathogens In Summer

As we all know, the arrival of summer comes hand in hand with a sudden rise in temperatures. As a result  , the likelihood of developing certain infections also increases because certain microorganisms are able to multiply under these circumstances. What are the primary pathogens in summer?

Exposure to viruses, bacteria and fungi can occur at any time during the year. However, due to the specific characteristics of the summer, some manage to spread more easily during the summer months. In the sections below, we will talk about those that are most common, as well as how they can affect our health.

What are pathogens?

The term, pathogens, refers to  any microorganism which has the ability to cause discomfort or disease to the host into which it enters.  This definition includes any type of microbe including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other more complex microorganisms.

It is important to note that some of the diseases we will mention below have several forms of origin due to their clinical symptoms. In other words, they may be caused by pathogens of different genera and even different orders. However, these groupings still help make the treatments simpler.

What are the primary pathogens in summer?

Viruses and bacteria, it causes inflammation

Ocular inflammation and otitis media are inflammatory disorders that dominate public swimming pools in the summer. Eye inflammation is inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the interior of the eye. Its symptoms include the following:

• Swelling of the eye
• Redness in the eye
• Tears
• Yellow pus

Eye inflammation can have either a viral or bacterial origin. However, in most cases of eye inflammation, the adenovirus is to blame. The virus spreads through direct contact as well as through particles in infected water.

Ear infections, on the other hand, are usually bacterial if we are talking about infections in the outer part of the ear canal. Based on the location, otitis media is classified as internal (in the inner ear) or external (in the outer ear). Their clinical manifestations include the following:

• Difficulty hearing
• Pain in the ear
• Hypersensitivity to touch

However, both diseases have something in common: The pathogens that can cause them, whether viral or bacterial, live in water and hot temperatures. Warm swimming pools are therefore the perfect breeding ground for these types of superficial inflammation.

With that in mind, it is important to have proper hygiene and take one’s own personal belongings with these places. One should keep in mind that these microorganisms also survive on surfaces.

Pathogens that cause food poisoning

Who has not been so unlucky to suffer from intense diarrhea after a summer buffet? Food poisoning seems to follow with the summer.

This occurs primarily because  temperature rises tend to promote the proliferation of many organisms that cause food poisoning. And secondly, it occurs because our habits change when we are on vacation.

We eat on the beach or by the pool, where hygiene measures are poor, which is much more risky than eating in its own clean kitchen.

According to  MedlinePlus  , some of the most common summer pathogens that cause this clinical disorder are the following:

• Bacteria belonging to the  genus Campylobacter genus , gram-negative bacilli, which are mobile due to the presence of cilia.
• E. The coli  bacterium,  which generally lives among microbiota in human intestines without causing any problems. However, certain strings produce diarrhea when they attach to the mucous membranes of the intestines.
• Vibrio cholera,  which is a bacterium that includes two serotypes that cause what we all know as cholera.
• Bacteria belonging to the  genus  Salmonella  are better able to reproduce in warmer temperatures.

As you can see, all cases of diarrhea in the summer are bacterial. This is because it is easier for an animal’s microbiota to mix with the meat when it is not handled properly. At the same time, it is common for water used for cooking and cleaning cutlery to become infected.

Other common pathogens in summer

The above pathogens are at the top of the list when it comes to their occurrence during the summer months. However, we can not end this article without commenting on some other pathogens that are also common this season:

• According to the World Health Organization, there are ten common diseases that are transmitted from insects to humans. The reproductive cycle of most of these species ends with full maturation in spring and summer. The incidence of them therefore increases during these periods. For example, these include diseases such as dengue, malaria, leishmaniasis and yellow fever, which are often produced by viruses and protozoa.
• Fungi that cause skin disorders are also very common in the summer. Installations such as swimming pools and public bathrooms are the perfect breeding ground for these. This is because the high temperatures and humidity promote the growth of these fungi.

As you can see, the list of pathogens that cause disease in the summer is almost endless. Bacteria are the leading ones as they cause both inflammatory diseases and also cases of gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea.

It is therefore important to exercise extreme caution when choosing where to eat, bathe and go to the toilet  when on vacation. In addition, if you develop any symptoms of an infection, you should see a doctor.