Intestinal infections are real summer misfortunes. Each of us has experienced intestinal disorders at least once in our lives.

Acute intestinal infections (AI) are a large group of diseases that are often group-based, characterized by signs of general intoxication, and affect the gastrointestinal tract. The infection can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and their waste products (toxins).

Particular attention is currently being paid to this group of diseases in connection with the ongoing military operations in our country. This is primarily due to non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, storage, sale, and transportation of products, possible consumption of low-quality food and water, and swimming in contaminated water bodies.

Based on statistics, intestinal infections can be classified as true seasonal diseases, with a peak in the summer. There are several reasons for this seasonality:

- In summer, we are more likely to drink unboiled water from the tap and natural sources;

- in summer, we are more likely to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, which are not always thoroughly washed and disinfected;

- food (especially dairy products, meat, fish, salads, and soups) rapidly multiplies pathogenic microbes, a large number of which cannot be contained by the body's defenses, especially in children and the elderly;

- everyone wants to relax by the water - at sea, by a river or lake, but the quality of water in them often does not meet sanitary requirements, and with one sip of dirty water you can get into big trouble;

- many insects carry infections, and one fly can have several million pathogenic microbes on its legs.

But the most important cause of intestinal infection was, is, and will be non-compliance with basic hygiene rules - unwashed hands, improper storage of food, and a large number of flies in living quarters.

To protect yourself from acute intestinal infections, you should strictly follow the rules of hygiene and sanitation. Prevention of acute intestinal infections involves following several simple rules:

- wash your hands before eating;

- in summer, refrain from eating confectionery with cream made with fresh eggs;

- store raw meat and fish separately from cooked food in the fridge;

- wash fruit, vegetables, and herbs thoroughly;

- store fresh vegetable salads for no more than a few hours, try to eat only freshly prepared food;

- when buying meat and dairy products, give preference to factory packaging, and be sure to check the expiry date;

- drink only boiled water or mineral water.