10-07-2025
Doctors sound the alarm over the summer activities full of hidden health threats
Hospital visits spike in summer as more people travel, have time off for adventurous activities and indulge in one too many piña coladas.
Warm weather can lead to dehydration, vacations mean new germs and environments, exhilarating experiences like zip lining can result in serious harm and visiting far off locales with different food safety standards may be a recipe for gastrointestinal disaster.
While the carefree summertime feeling may be appealing, experts warn that people shouldn't throw all caution to the wind, as the season is rife for health complications - both big and small.
Superdrug's Pharmacy Superintendent Niamh McMillan said: 'We all remember to pack the basics such as sun cream and basic pain relief such as [acetaminophen].
'However, our Superdrug pharmacies often see a surge in post holiday visits with unexpected issues such as swimmer's ear, fungal foot infections and stomach upsets that they have picked up abroad, which can ruin a trip.'
But rest assured, you don't need to live in a constant state of fear on vacation.
Below, details some of the most common summer ailments and the expert-backed tips to prevent them.
Warts
Aside from being unsightly, warts can lead to pain and difficulty walking if they pop up on the feet.
The typically benign spots start small but slowly increase in size, becoming more and more painful when left untreated.
Warm, moist and germy environments like public pools and showers become a feeding zone for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes warts.
This leads to plantar warts and verrucas - warts that appear on the soles of the feet.
'Swimming pools, communal showers and hotel spas can be breeding grounds for warts, verruca, and athlete's foot,' McMillan said.
When enjoying water parks, public pools or even having a relaxing spa day, avoid going barefoot and dry feet off quickly.
Traveler's stomach
A common problem on vacation is traveler's diarrhea or another type of stomach illness.
Whether it's contaminated water, undercooked meat or unsanitary produce, a stomach bug can hit at any time and cause cramping, bloating, nausea and vomiting.
Studies suggest that between 30 percent and 70 percent of travelers experience traveler's diarrhea (TD).
For most, the episodes will settle after one to two days but in severe cases, those sickened may become severely dehydrated or go into organ failure and need to be hospitalized.
These viruses are commonly caused by ingesting water or food that has been contaminated with feces, or consuming undercooked food, such as meat, eggs or fish.
Dr Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert, previously told to 'steer clear of buffets,' a common place for food contamination as people breath and touch communal food.
Another no-no are street vendors. Some places may have less stringent food regulations, meaning they may not be completely germ-free. So it's best to avoid suspicious market food and eat at restaurants or cook your own meals if possible.
Dr Detweiler added that the high temperatures during summer months can also encourage the proliferation of dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.
It's also important to beware of contaminated water, with the Mayo Clinic suggesting avoiding ice cubes and tap water in some countries.
Stocking up on bottled water to brush your teeth and avoiding sliced fruit that may have been washed in tap water will help prevent viruses.
Swimmer's ear
Cooling off at the pool or the lake is all fun and games until you start to feel pain in your ear.
This is called swimmer's ear, an infection of the outer ear canal caused by bacteria or fungi in moist environments like pools, lakes or oceans.
'It's exquisitely painful,' Dr Sapna Singh, a pediatrician and chief medical officer at Texas Children's Pediatrics in Houston, told The New York Times. 'I've seen teenagers come in in tears.'
It affects one in 200 Americans annually and is most common in children, though adults are far from immune.
'Many people think ear infections are just for children, but adults can also get outer ear infections, especially after swimming in public pools,' McMillan added.
'Trapped water breeds bacteria in the ear canal, causing pain, inflammation and even temporary hearing loss.'
McMillan recommends wearing ear plugs and thoroughly drying your ears after swimming, as well as not submerging your head for long periods of time.
The adrenaline rush from adventure tours may not be worth the risk.
Summer is a peak time for tourists and campers to zip line, go ATVing, scuba and snorkel, but these activities can be dangerous.
In October of 2024, a Carnival cruise turned deadly for two young cruise passengers in Nassau, Bahamas, claiming the life of one and leading to the other being arrested.
The chilling incident was caused by James Darling, a 21-year-old, overturning his ATV bike and resulting in his friend's, James Palmer, fatal injuries.
According to a police report, Darling was arrested after the crash when police found him in possession of nine grams of marijuana, which is illegal for recreational use in the Bahamas.
In another incident at a summer camp in North Carolina in 2015, a 12-year-old girl fell more than 40 feet to her death when a tether attaching her to the camp's zip line snapped.
The camp had dual zip lines that somehow got tangled, which melted her tether from the friction.
In the summer of 2023, the latest data available, it was reported that nearly 200,000 children had suffered injuries that made them go to the emergency room. All of which were caused by 'summer fun.'
To stay safe, it is important to avoid high-risk activities and only partake in those through reputable companies. Staying sober and being alert is also important to stave off injuries.
Insect Bites
Rummaging through the summer grass and nature walks are a sure way to suffer insect bites.
According to the CDC, July has already seen the highest number of tick-related ER visits since 2017, with the Northeast region reporting the most cases.
Young children and elderly adults appear particularly vulnerable, with those under 10 and over 70 years old having the highest rates of emergency room visits.
Lyme Disease strikes 476,000 Americans and can linger for years after infection, causing fatigue, muscle and joint pain, brain fog and sleep disturbances.
Mosquitoes also pose a threat to killing summer fun, as the small insects are known to carry a multitude of seriously devastating disease like dengue fever, zika virus and malaria.
Though many of these are rare in the US, they can lead to harsh symptoms like fever, rash, joint pain, headache and chills.
Health officials recommend repelling bugs with spray and checking your body regularly for ticks.
