As Monsoon clouds bring with them a collective cool down and refreshing rain, children and adults alike leave their homes to enjoy the weather. But rainfall never comes alone. With the monsoon many water-borne diseases also come. Cold and cough, fever, viral diseases, etc are common in this season, but there are many diseases which can take a serious form like dengue, malaria, etc.
Doctors have said that all the waterborne diseases affect the gastro intestinal tract (GIT). Chief among bacterial diseases is jaundice, followed by diarrhea which is a viral disease. Most common monsoon diseases include dengue, malaria, jaundice, typhoid, cholera, etc. Doctors have repeatedly warned against the spread and risk of infectious diseases due to rainwater accumulation at various points and poor cleanliness systems in rural areas.
MALARIA: The most common water-borne disease is malaria. It’s caused by a parasite called plasmodium that infects the red blood cells. Its symptoms include chill, fever and pain. This is a life-threatening disease. It is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. It usually affects children below 5 years of age and elderly people. Its symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, cough and mild jaundice.
Doctors have said that when malaria gets chronic; it causes coma, bleeding, kidney failure or may even result in death.
Its treatment depends on the clinical situation of the patient. It is dangerous under the age of 5 and in pregnant ladies. Malaria should be treated before it gets chronic.
DENGUE: The next common disease is dengue. This is caused by a virus which gets transmitted by mosquito. Fever, rash and headache are the main symptoms of dengue followed by bleeding gums, red soles and palms. Dengue is also known by the name “dandy fever” or “break bone”. As dengue is caused by viruses there is no specific treatment for it other than proper intake of fluid and food.
TYPHOID: Typhoid is a disease caused by Salmonella typhi which occurs due to intake of contaminated water and food. Symptoms include high fever, poor appetite lethargy and so on. Typhoid can be treated with the help of appropriate antibiotics. Chloramphanecol was one of the popular antibiotics but nowadays it has been replaced by other medicines.
CHOLERA: The cause of cholera is Vibrio Cholerae and this is a deadly disease. It affects the small intestine and its incubation period varies from 6-48 hours. It is spread through contamination of food and water and human feces. Usually flies are the carriers.
FUNGAL SKIN DISEASE: Due to high humidity in monsoon, people sweat more. As the air is saturated with water vapors, the sweat doesn’t evaporate because of which fungus gets favorable conditions to grow and this causes fungal skin diseases.
City authorities have reportedly failed to arrange an effective cleanliness system to drain out rainwater. Rural areas lack proper sewerage lines and dirty water either overflows in the streets or accumulates at some points causing trouble for dwellers, particularly during rainy season.
HOW TO AVOID DISEASES: No one can simply will rain away, however precautions against water-borne diseases can be taken:
The most effective thing that one can do is to keep a raincoat or umbrella always ready when one goes out in the rainy season. A raincoat with hood and waterproof shoes are the items one should keep.
Doctors suggest increasing the intake of Vitamin C either in natural form or as food supplement will help drive away the cold virus faster. A healthy supply of this vitamin will activate your antibodies and reduce the severity of cold, undoubtedly.
Although it sounds very unusual because if one is drenched in rain, one will never want to take another shower. Taking a shower with hot water after one has been caught in rain will protect you from many infections.
The best thing is to make a hot soup for yourself or at least drink a cup of hot milk. This will keep you from catching cold or save you from catching any kind of infection that can occur due to sudden change in temperature of the body.
Cleanliness is very important during rainy season. Even if one catches cold, one should clean hands regularly and use a sanitizer always after that.
Water intake may reduce naturally because of the sudden drop in the temperature of the environment. It is good to drink plenty of water and do not wait to get thirsty to drink water. This will help you drain out toxins from your body.
Regular exercise must be incorporated in ones routine to stay fit and healthy.
Try to eat nutritious food and avoid eating out during rainy season. Prepare meals with full precaution and maintain health and hygiene in the entire house. One should consume plenty of green vegetables. They have a good amount of nutrients that will keep one fit during this season.
The dark side of monsoon
