Monsoon brings with it a host of diseases. Take a look at this list to know which are the 5 most common monsoon diseases and how to avoid them!
The monsoon season comes as a relief after two months of sweltering heat. However, the rains also bring with them a host of diseases. Dr Usha Chennuru, Consultant Medical Advisor says that the sudden surge in monsoon-related illnesses can be attributed to “muddy puddles, inadequate drainage and stagnation of water.” There is always a hike in the numbers of people falling sick because the surroundings become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and germs.
Some of the most common monsoon illnesses that you need to watch out for this monsoon include Gastroenteritis, Malaria, Dengue, Leptospirosis and Typhoid.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is commonly known as the stomach flu. According to the staff at the Mayo Clinic, it is an intestinal infection that causes diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and fever. The reason that it is so common in the monsoon is because it is caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. It is contagious and spreads through contact with the infection person. Unfortunately, there is no immediate cure for Viral Gastroenteritis and therefore the infected person will be sick for a while. In this case, prevention should be given as much importance as cure.
Malaria
Malaria is caused due to parasites transmitted through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. It is very common during the monsoon because there is a sharp rise in the increase of mosquitoes. This is because during monsoon, water collects in puddles and other empty areas and creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises the symptoms of the disease at the earliest stage as fever, chills and vomiting. Malaria needs immediate attention and one should not wait to get help till the disease has advanced to later stages.
Dengue
Dengue is also another disease that is caused by mosquitoes. It affects people across all ages and according to the World Health Organization, the symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint and rashes. However, it is not a contagious disease and therefore does not spread through contact with the infected person. To avoid dengue, prevent mosquito bites!
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that increases in numbers right after rainfall and flooding. It is caused by a bacteria and occurs when you come in contact with contaminated water. This does not refer to drinking water but the stagnant water on the roads. The bacteria released through animal urine breeds in these stagnant waters. When you wade through these waters with even a minor abrasion in your skin, you have a high risk of contracting the disease. The World Health Organisation outlines the symptoms as being variant from a mild ‘flu’ to a serious illness.
Typhoid
Typhoid is another common monsoon disease that spreads through contaminated food and water. It is contagious and hence transferrable through human contact. The Mayo Clinic Staff says that the symptoms of the disease usually include high fever, headache, abdominal pain and either constipation or diarrhoea. Typhoid patients are usually treated with antibiotics but there are vaccines against this disease.
As you may have realised, most of the common monsoon diseases are caused due to contaminated food and water.
They may be very common but are also really easy to control. Dr Chennuru gives us a few tips on how to stay healthy during the monsoon to avoid contracting any of the above-mentioned diseases.
— Ensure that you drink boiled water at all times. You may use a water purifier at home but during the monsoon, when prevention is better than cure, it is safer to boil all water before drinking it.
— Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming. Fruits and vegetables may have dirty water and disease causing germs and therefore it is important to wash them properly before consumption.
— Do not allow stagnant water to remain in your surroundings. Diseases like Dengue and Malaria are caused because of the mosquitoes that breed in stagnant waters. One way to do this is by emptying all the pots and reservoirs of water (AC trays, drain trays of indoor plants) in your house.
—Use mosquito repellents to avoid mosquito bites. Even if you do take precautions to make sure that there is no stagnant water in or around your immediate surroundings, the frequency of mosquitoes naturally increases during the monsoons. Therefore, be prepared by investing in a good mosquito repellant that will ward away any disease-carrying mosquito.
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