What’s the best way to prevent diarrhoea in the hot season?

Hot weather causes pathogens to proliferate more quickly, resulting in more cases of diarrhoea due to food poisoning. Health authorities have warned everyone to be careful about what they eat during times of hot weather, and to pay extra attention to cleanliness. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on the best ways to stay healthy.

Ms Duangta, a resident of Luang Prabang province: Of course, we must all be careful about what we eat and drink. As we know, it’s not always easy to get fresh and clean food and water because most people put chemicals on the plants they grow. In addition, cattle and other livestock often suffer from disease. I always see people eating raw meat, liver, fish and seafood without any concern for the presence of bacteria or parasites, but this is an easy way to get sick.  Unfortunately, most people don’t understand the causes and effects of illness and don’t take matters such as cleanliness and hygiene seriously. I think the authorities should provide more advice to communities about ways to prevent diseases, and what to do if you are unwell.
 
Ms Toukta, a resident of Naxaithong district, Vientiane: I don’t think that many Lao people are concerned about this, because most of them, particularly those living in rural areas, don’t know much about the root causes of food poisoning and associated diarrhoea. But everyone should be on their guard against the possibility of eating contaminated food and take special precautions to ensure that food is safe. This means not exposing food to high temperatures for long periods of time and eating things as soon as they have been cooked. Public health officials and doctors should circulate helpful information about food cleanliness and the reasons why people get diarrhoea, as well as what to do if you become unwell. They should tell people how to prevent it, while those who are knowledgeable about such matters should educate others in their community.
 
Ms Yui, a resident of Saravan province: There are many diseases that arrive with the hot season. This means we should be sure to drink only clean water. Food must be thoroughly cooked, while waste food should be disposed of properly. We must wash also wash our hands before and after eating as well as after using the toilet to prevent pathogens entering our bodies via our hands. I think that these practices should protect us against other diseases as well. We need to get the right information about ways to protect ourselves and prevent illness caused by eating unclean food. The authorities definitely need to do more in this regard as well as improve sanitation across the country. 
Ms Noy, an employee in Pakngum district, Vientiane: Many diseases spread easily in a hot climate and it’s important that everyone pays attention to their health and good hygiene. We should keep our homes clean and be careful about what we eat. If possible, we should eat only food that is freshly cooked and drink only boiled water. It’s best to avoid uncooked food and street food because it may not be clean and could give us diarrhea or worse. We should also wash our hands frequently and pay special attention to cleanliness and hygiene. If you fall ill, you should see a doctor or go to the nearest health facility at once.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update April 19, 2022)