The arrival of the first monsoon rain is a respite from the scorching heatwave and unbearable temperatures. But even so, you can’t pass over the fact that the rainy season also brings with it a breeding ground for various viral infections and diseases.
The thick humid, wet and damp conditions can easily become carriers of infectious diseases since it makes for a perfect environment for the growth of viruses and bacteria, giving rise to a number of air and water-borne diseases.
Studies say your risk of catching bacterial and viral infections is two times more during the monsoon season as compared to any other season. The high moisture content in the air makes it easy for harmful microorganisms to thrive, resulting in various types of infections.
The most common diseases during monsoons are transmitted through 4 major mediums: mosquitoes, water, air, and contaminated food. Here are some of the most common monsoon infections and how you can prevent these ailments.
Malaria
One of the most common monsoon infections and one of the major health concerns during monsoons is malaria. When rain, water remains clogged, it helps the mosquitoes breeding process. The mosquito-borne disease is caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium which breeds in stagnant water.
Malaria symptoms include bouts of shivering, body aches and sweating and it generally occurs in cycles. This is due to the nature of malarial parasite as these develop and reproduce in the human body. Monsoon and malaria are almost synonymous to each other.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends malarial parasite detection test by microscopy and rapid antigen detection test to detect cases of malaria and malarial fever.
Tip: The best way to prevent malaria fever is to prevent the collection of stagnant water and keep the surroundings clean.
Dengue
Another common yet life-threatening mosquito-borne disease is dengue, caused by Aedes aegypti mosquito. The spread of dengue can be attributed to erratic rainfall and high-level humidity which serves as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to diseases like dengue and chikungunya.
Sudden high-grade fever, severe headaches, severe and muscle pain, skin rashes, loss of appetite and tiredness are some common symptoms of dengue fever. Dropping of platelets is the first indication of dengue fever. Dengue can be fatal if not treated in time.
Tip: Using mosquito repellents and growing insect repellent plants like citronella can be a good way to prevent dengue fever.
Typhoid
Caused by the S.typhi bacteria, Typhoid is a waterborne disease very common during the monsoon months. Typhoid is commonly caused due to poor sanitation, consumption of food and/or water, cooked or kept in unhygienic conditions. The disease can cause fever, turn skin yellow and affect the liver. The fever increases slowly over a period of time and drops subsequently in the morning. This fluctuating fever can be accompanied by severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and headaches.
Tip: Practice basic hygiene like regular hand washing, avoid street foods, and drinking plenty of fluids may help prevent typhoid fever.
Hepatitis A
This type of infection is most commonly transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water. Derived from an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis A can inflame and damage your liver and exhibit symptoms like fatigue, low-grade fever, tenderness in the stomach, nausea, vomiting yellow eyes, dark-coloured urine, and a sudden loss in appetite.
Tip: Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and when you come in contact with an infected person’s blood, stool or other body fluids. Avoiding unclean food and water can also help in checking hepatitis A infection.
Cholera
This disease is caused by many strains of bacteria called Vibrio cholera. Cholera affects the gastrointestinal tract causing severe dehydration and diarrhea. A case of cholera can also give you diarrhoea or loose motions.
Tip: Drink boiled, treated or purified water which can keep the germs at bay.
Preventive Measures
Along with these illnesses, the monsoon period also leads to the increase of fungal and bacterial infections, due to excessive moisture content in the air. Furthermore, skin and hair issues like acne, rashes, allergies, hair fall, and dandruff are also accompanying issues of the raining months.
Some overall health and wellness tips you can follow to keep yourself protected include:
- Consume freshly washed, boiled vegetables, reduce your intake of fats, oils, and sodium, and avoid dairy products as they can contain microorganisms that are harmful to your health
- Drink clean water to stay safe. Avoid bottled water and install a water purifier instead so that there are no traces of bacteria and viruses in the drinking water.
- Follow a structured personal hygiene routine at all times to avoid fungal infections
- Eat a balanced diet to keep your immune system strong. Avoid eating out as much as possible during the monsoon season. The unhygienic conditions and contaminated water used in making the food makes you vulnerable to a number of diseases such as stomach infections
- Wear full-sleeved and light clothes to protect your skin from mosquito and insect bites
If you experience any symptoms that could point to the above-mentioned conditions, contact your healthcare provider for assistance.
