Health related problems during Monsoon

by Yashoda Hopsitals | Jun 11, 2020 | General | 5105 54

1. Why do people often fall ill during monsoons?

2. What are the common illnesses during monsoons?

11. Chikungunya Fever

Rainy season is a time for scenic beauty while also bringing with it- a host of ailments ranging from a cough, cold, severe infections and increasing the risk of hospitalisation. Staying hygienic and adhering to basic preventive measures can help reduce life-threatening health issues.

Why do people often fall ill during monsoons?

Our immune system is built to fight against all external viruses, bacteria and infectious diseases while protecting us from falling ill. During the monsoons, the WBC (White blood cells) weaken due to temperature fluctuations, thus lowering our immunity. With a weaker immune system, bacterial diseases like typhoid and viral infections like common cold and viral fever tend to spread rapidly.

What are the common illnesses during monsoons?

Rainwater causes common air borne and water borne diseases that include Malaria, Typhoid, Cholera, Common Cold and more. Water bodies get polluted easily during the rainy season thus increasing the risk of water borne diseases. When displaying symptoms for any of the diseases mentioned below Consult a Doctor Online or visit an OPD.

Common Cold

Common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). It usually appears one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.

Symptoms

Fever
Sneezing
Sore throat

Prevention

Wash your hands
Avoid touching your face
Use hand sanitizers
Clean frequently used surfaces
Strengthen your immune system

Viral Fever

Viral fever is caused by an underlying viral illness or an acute viral infection occurring due to the seasonal changes and infection in the environment.They are generally characterized by a rise in normal body temperature i.e. beyond 98.6 degree Fahrenheit.

Symptoms

General symptoms of a Viral Fever along with raised body temperature are:

Sweating
Dehydration
Headache
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Chills and shivering
Muscle aches and body pains

Prevention

Drink only clean water and preferably boiled water
Avoid getting wet in the rain
Avoid direct contact with napkins, tissues, handkerchiefs, or similar items used by others
Rinse all meat and vegetables with water before cooking
Cover a cough
Don’t share dishes, glasses, or eating utensils
Keep washing your hands

Malaria

Malaria generally coincides with the rainy season and is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito.

Symptoms:

Fever
Chills
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle pain and fatigue
Sweating
Chest or abdominal pain
Cough

Prevention

Cover your skin and avoid dark color clothing
Apply insect repellent to skin and clothing.
Sleep under insecticide treated mosquito net.
Use appropriate mosquito repellents or liquidators.
Avoid water stagnation.

Dengue

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that can lead to severe flu-like illnesses. It is caused by four viruses and spread by Aedes mosquitoes.

Symptoms:

High fever (104 degree Fahrenheit)
Severe headaches
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain behind the eyes
Muscles, bones and joint pain
Skin rashes
Mild bleeding (Nose bleeding and gums bleeding)

Prevention:

Use appropriate mosquito repellents and liquidators.
Wear protective clothing. Avoid dark colored clothing.
Apply insect repellent to skin and clothing.
Ensure doors and windows with mesh have no visible holes
Sleep under insecticide treated mosquito nets.
Avoid water stagnation

Chicken Pox

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is highly contagious and people who are at a higher risk are those who have not had the disease, not been vaccinated for it and with weakened immune systems due to chronic conditions.

Symptoms:

Body aches
Fever
Feeling extremely tired (fatigue)
Feeling irritable
Loss of appetite
Headache
Skin lesions

Prevention:

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
Mosquito nets and repellants should be used.
All water sources at home should be properly capped.
Avoid water stagnation+

Cholera

Cholera is caused by contaminated food and water. It is a bacterial disease causing severe diarrhoea and dehydration, usually spread due to contaminated water with a bacterium called vibrio cholerae.

Symptoms

Cholera Symptoms are characterized by

Diarrhea with watery stools
Vomiting
Water loss from body
Muscle cramps
Seizures may occur in severe cases

Prevention

Boiling water before using maintaining personal hygiene
Good sanitation
Taking a vaccine to prevent cholera

Typhoid

Monsoon or rainy season offers an ideal ground for typhoid, which is a highly infectious disease. Typhoid spreads by contaminated food and water. The biggest problem with typhoid is that, even after the patient is cured, the typhoid bacteria continue to stay in the gallbladder.

Symptoms

High Fever
Headache
Stomach Pain
Weakness
Vomiting
Loose Stools
Severe pain in the Abdomen

Prevention

Getting vaccinated
Isolating the infected from other members of the family.
Avoiding dehydration by greater intake of fluids, and continuing with care even after recovery.
Typhoid may recur, so close monitoring of each case is crucial in the treatment of Typhoid.

Swine Flu

Swine Flu or swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the H1N1 virus. H1N1 virus spreads quickly from person to person. Thousands of germs spread by a simple sneeze through the air. The virus can survive on tables and surface areas like door knobs, waiting to be carried.

Symptoms

Cough
Fever
Sore throat
Stuffy or runny nose
Body ache
Headache
Chills
Fatigue

Preventions

Wash your hands frequently
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
If experiencing flu-like symptoms, avoid close contact with others until you’ve been free of fever for the next 24 hours
Maintain a 6 feet distance from people with symptoms

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever is a transmissible disease that spreads by the bite of an infected aedes mosquito. Newborns and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease are at risk for severe complications.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, they include:

Fever and joint pain.
Headache
Muscle pain
Joint swelling
Rash

Prevention

Use Insect Repellent with active DEET, picaridin etc.
Use mosquito netting if in an area that is open to the outdoors
Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting
Wear Clothing that covers arms and legs
Stay or sleep indoors whenever possible

It is important to take preventive measures to safeguard against these diseases which may cause serious health problems during monsoons. It is better to be armed with information and create awareness for symptoms and precautions that help to be better prepared, and cope with illnesses brought in by this season. Visiting Doctors or Specialists and on time can save lives and prevent grave health problems.

Reference:

Common cold, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605, Mayoclicnic, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
Common cold preventions, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12342-common-cold/prevention, Cleveland Clinic, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
Swine flu, https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/swine-flu-10-things-not-to-do#1,WebMd, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
Chikungunya, https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/prevention/index.html, Centers for disease and control prevention, WebMd, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
What you need to know about typhoid, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156859, Medical News Today, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
Cholera,https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cholera-faq#1, WebMd, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.
Chickenpox, https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-chickenpox, WebMd, Last accessed on 9th June, 2020.