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Lillian Wilson lounges in a hammock in the shade at Zilker Park in Austin this summer. It’s been a quiet summer for many illnesses compared with recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
With July’s heat came typical summer viruses in Austin, as well as illnesses caused by heat and\u00a0vehicle crashes, according to local doctors. August will bring a return of other viruses and bacterial illnesses as students head back to school.<\/p>\n
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The most common illnesses this summer have been gastrointestinal viruses<\/a> that have caused vomiting and diarrhea, according to Texas Children’s Hospital’s Austin location. “Stomach bugs like to go around in the summer,” said Dr. Danielle Grant, a Texas Children’s pediatrician in Spicewood.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n These viruses have not been caused by the\u00a0parasite cyclospora,<\/a> which has been active in other states and has been tied to lettuce, though experts believe multiple outbreaks are happening now. The Austin area has only seen a normal amount or a slight increase <\/a>in the number of cases of\u00a0cyclosporiasis, according to health departments\u00a0in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop and Hays counties.<\/p>\n Doctors also might be seeing more gastrointestinal viruses in their clinics because of the\u00a0cyclosporiasis outbreak and patients’ concerns that they might have that parasite, said Dr.\u00a0Anas Daghestani, president and CEO\u00a0of Austin Regional Clinic.<\/p>\n The COVID-19 summer surge did not happen this year, but some occasional cases that felt more like allergies popped up in late June and early July. Some lingering flu cases also emerged in July.<\/p>\n “There’s always a few cases, but we’re doing more testing than we’ve seen illnesses,” Daghestani said of the more well-known illnesses. It’s been a normal season, he said. “Nothing is spiking.”<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Electric bikes can be fun, but also are causing more serious injuries than manually-powered bikes.<\/p>\n Amethyst Martinez<\/p>\n Kids and adults at play, more injuries<\/p>\n July has been a month for bicycle- and scooter-related injuries, including cuts and bruises, broken bones and abdominal injuries. For people not wearing helmets, that also means head injuries.\u00a0Electric bikes and scooters<\/a> have intensified those injuries, said Dr. Jennifer Christensen, a pediatrician with Austin Regional Clinic in Bee Cave.<\/p>\n Swimmer’s ear, an infection that often happens after water gets into the ear canal, has also been common.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Both Grant and Christensen have seen a lot of impetigo, which is a contagious bacterial infection of the skin. Some of that has been caused by people scratching\u00a0mosquito bites<\/a>, creating an opening for the infection to get in.<\/p>\n Doctors also are seeing patients with summer rashes from being in nature or exposed to different materials not in their usual environments.<\/p>\n Jacob Jones, 18, cools off while playing sand volleyball at Zilker Park on a hot afternoon in July. Staying hydrated is important in the heat.<\/p>\n Jay Janner\/Weather Prediction Center<\/p>\n High temperatures, more ick<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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