How to beat the summer bugs

Beat the summer bugs Source: Yahoo Health and Fitness Bad bugs love the heat and humidity of summer. The only way to beat them is to follow hygienic habits. quot;
The most favourable temperature for these bugs to grow is between 30°C-37°C,quot;
says Prof. Subrata Majumdar, microbiologist, Bose Institute, Kolkata. quot;
Their virulence also intensifies in summer.quot;
and these bugs travel quickly too, from your desk to your bedroom. The only way to beat them is to follow hygienic habits everywhere-and sometimes the habit is as simple as washing your hands properly. Here we uncover potential germ sources to be wary of, and tell you how to keep germs at bay. When you come in watch out for: ,[object Object],Fix it: quot;
Wash your hands after touching a doorknob or touch it with a tissue,quot;
suggests Majumdar. ,[object Object],Fix it: Take off your shoes before stepping on the carpet and ask your guests to do the same. Clean it with a disinfectant every week. ,[object Object],The remote: The TV remote harbours a cold virus named rhinovirus. It can stay on your remote surface for 2 days. Fix it: Wipe it clean with a disinfectant every day. ,[object Object],Fix it: Wash it with a good liquid detergent every day. Sun drying it, is also a must. ,[object Object],Fix it: Scrub the basin daily. Pour a solution containing one tablespoon of bleaching powder and one litre of water down the drain. Keep the sink dry. ,[object Object],Fix it: Wash the vegetables properly before cutting them and use separate boards for chopping meat and veggies. Clean the cutting boards with a potassium permanganate solution. ,[object Object],Fix it: quot;
Refrigerate food at 4°C-5°C but not for more than 2 days. Heat it at 70°C for at least 3 mins before having it. Avoid reheating,quot;
says Saini. Throw the food if there is any smell or froth, or if the taste of the food changes after heating. It means some spores are still left behind. ,[object Object],Fix it: Cover all food, even salad. quot;
Don't leave food out overnight outside the refrigerator,quot;
says Budhiraja. quot;
And once heated, consume it quickly.quot;
 ,[object Object],Bath towels:Wet towels can give you skin irritation and fungal diseases (like Jock Itch). The chances of contamination increase if you share your towel. Fix it: Don't share towels. quot;
Sun dry all the towels every day and make sure they are not piled on each other. The towel of an infected person should be washed separately,quot;
says Saini. ,[object Object],Fix it: Spray both with bleach once a week. Wash the curtain in warm water. ,[object Object],Bed Sheets: Just mites feeding on dead skin cells keep lurking here. Their faecal matter and corpses contribute to asthma and allergies. Your bed may also be the home to parasites that feed solely on animal blood. They spread from your clothes. Fix it: To get rid of the dust mites, preferably use fresh sheets every alternate day. Wash sheets in warm water and dry in the sun. Make sure it is not damp. But to beat the parasites, get pest control done twice a year. ,[object Object],The Keyboard: It is the hub for cold and flu viruses and bacteria which cause nail infections, water boils in fingers and skin irritationsquot;
says gastroenterologist Dr SK Thakur from Moolchand Medcity, Delhi. Fix it: quot;
Clean between the keys with a small brush every day,quot;
suggests Majumdar. Use a surface cleaner to clean the keyboard every week.quot;
 ,[object Object],Fix it: Wash your hands and disinfect your desk frequently, particularly during the flu season. quot;
In case you are too busy to go up to the wash basin, carry a hand sanitiser,quot;
says Majumdar. ,[object Object],The buttons: They are the hubs for innumerable respiratory viruses and bacteria. Fix it: quot;
After coming out of the ATM counter, make sure to clean your hands with a hand sanitiser, in case you can't wash them,quot;
says Saini. ,[object Object],The clothes/make-up you are trying out Clothes, especially lingerie, may lead to scabies and fungal infection in your skin. Testers at make-up counters can give you anything from pink eye to oral herpes. Fix it: It's best to avoid trying lingerie. But if you must, bathe afterwards. Ask the attendant for panty liners when you want to try them on. Don't use make-up testers on lips and eyes. ,[object Object],Fix it: Try to touch them with a tissue and chuck it in the bin. Or take the stairs-the exercise will do you good. ,[object Object],The restaurant menu Innumerable people touch them and they are never cleaned. And they harbour millions of viruses and bacteria. Fix it: Never let the menu touch your plate or cutlery, and make sure to wash or sanitise your hands after you order. ,[object Object],The WC seat cover A dirty seat cover may give you faecal diseases, UTI, or skin infections. Fix it: Wipe the seat cover before sitting. Or better still, use an Indian-style loo in a public place. Wash you hands. ,[object Object],The water in the pool: The pool may give you a host of diseases, mainly those caused by faecal bacteria. quot;
Swimming pools can also cause skin irritations,quot;
says Thakur. Fix it: quot;
Check with the pool authorities if the water is regularly chlorinated,quot;
says Budhiraja.

How to beat the summer bugs

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