Most Common Monsoon Diseases: Prevention and Precautions
Monsoon season in India not only provides relief from the scorching heat of summer but also brings the risk of catching various communicable diseases. These monsoon diseases remain undiagnosed until some undesirable consequences occur. This is why it is important to diagnose and treat diseases early during the rainy season, as it can save lives. Developing, resource-limited nations are predicted to face a host of climate-related health consequences including vector-borne and water-borne diseases such as malaria, cholera, and dengue.
Here are some common diseases that are very prevalent in this season that you should be aware of. It is also advisable to understand the preventive measures of these diseases so that you and your family can take the necessary precautions.
TYPES OF DISEASES DURING MONSOON IN INDIA |
ABOUT THE DISEASE |
SYMPTOMS |
Influenza (Cold and Flu) |
- Highly contagious disease.
- Caused due to the spread of the virus in the air which infects the upper respiratory tract and thus affects the nose and the throat.
|
Runny or stuffy nose, body ache, throat irritation, soreness, and fever. |
Cholera |
- Deadly bacterial disease.
- Contaminated food and water and poor hygienic conditions are the major causes of this disease.
- The presence of V. cholera bacteria from a stool sample is determined by a rapid dipstick test.
|
Severe diarrhoea with watery stool (known as rice water stools) and vomiting which causes immediate water loss, electrolyte misbalance, and muscle cramps. |
Typhoid |
- A waterborne bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi.
- It spreads through contaminated food and water during the monsoon season.
- Poor hygiene and sanitation is the main cause of Typhoid Fever.
- The tests which can be done for typhoid are Blood Culture, Rapid Typhoid, and Widal.
|
Prolonged high fever, severe abdomen pain, headache, vomiting and sore throat. |
Hepatitis A |
- Highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.
- It is caused by drinking contaminated water or food with the stool of someone with the virus.
- It also spread through flies.
|
Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin, dark urine), stomach pain, anorexia, Nausea, Fever, Diarrhoea, and Fatigue. |
Dengue |
- Caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes.
- It is spread by the tiger mosquito (Aedes Aegypti) that bites early in the morning or at dawn.
|
Severe joint and muscle pain (myalgia), swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, exhaustion, and rash. Hemoglobin count decreases drastically and if treatment is not provided can lead to death. |
Malaria |
- Most common monsoon related disease caused by the bite of the female Anopheles Mosquito.
|
mild to severe, like fever with chills, headache, jaundice, severe exhaustion, and fluctuating state of consciousness, severe anemia, or even liver and kidney failure. |
Preventive and Precaution Measures to Follow During Monsoon Season
- Always drink clean and boiled water.
- Always change your hand towels and do not use other’s handkerchief
- Always wear a face mask in crowded places.
- Wash your hands properly with soap or hand sanitizers.
- Cover your face when you sneeze or use a tissue paper and throw it in the dustbin.
- Avoid eating outside from street vendors and consume as much fresh food as possible. Roadside food may contain contaminated water and thus will cause diarrhoea.
- Avoid getting wet in the rain and eat healthy foods to boost your immunity. Use mosquito repellent creams and nets during sleeping.
- Do not throw garbage on the road and also do not keep empty cans, motorcycle tyres outside your house. Rainwater will gather in them and will become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Drink coconut water to keep your body hydrated.
- Keep your surroundings clean and if you have weakness or body pain, please visit your doctor first and then take an antibiotic. Do not be the doctor of your own.