By Dr Umberto Russo MBBS, FRACGP

During Australia’s long hot summer, our doctors visit patients suffering from the ill effects of heat waves and hot weather. Heat-related illnesses can mean mild symptoms like rash or cramps, to serious and life-threatening conditions such as heat stroke.

 

Mosquitoes (or “mozzies” as we call them in Australia) and summer go together, especially when it is hot, humid and still. Mozzies can play havoc with your sleep at night, cover the children with itchy bites, and ruin a perfectly good picnic.  Here are ten things you might not know about these blood-sucking, heat-seeking, sleep-wrecking insects.

’Tis the season to be jolly – and no one wants to put a halt to the festivities due to an unpleasant case of gastro or food poisoning. However every year our doctors are called out to see patients suffering from gastro attacks. 

Summer is coming, and so is the dangerous time of year when UV levels are high. Following sun-smart strategies is a life-long necessity in a country like Australia. Teach your kids to put on their own sunscreen, remember their hats for school, sport and beach, and keep your kids sun safe, for life.

By Dr Natalie Caristo MBBS, BSc (Hons), FRACGP

The majority of the patients I see when I’m making home visits in the after hours are children. And parents often say to me, “Doctor, he seems to have a cough all the time”, or “She’s always got a blocked nose”. Does your child seem to be constantly coughing (especially at night time), sneezing, or suffering from a blocked nose and waking up feeling tired?