A Safe Monsoon

As the storm clouds darken the skies and the rain comes pouring down, most of us sigh with relief that the last of the summer is over. Time for a cup of tea with sizzling hot bhajiyas or a quiet afternoon tucked in with a good book. As wonderful as the sensations of the monsoon are it is also the time when viral and bacterial infections proliferate and illnesses are frequent.

Here’s a quick look at some common monsoon aliments and how to avoid them.

Most monsoon diseases fall into two main categories:

Mosquito related and Water-borne.

The first lot of diseases includes malaria and dengue and is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. Why do these occur in the monsoon specifically? This is because the stagnant pools of water left behind by the rain become breeding grounds for the mosquitoes.

The second lot is water-borne diseases caused when human waste and garbage get mixed with and contaminate the water that is consumed by us. These diseases can be deadly, but can easily be avoided. They include hepatitis, typhoid and Para-typhoid, gastro-enteric diseases, diarrhea and stomach ailments

Prevention

Mosquito-related diseases can be avoided by applying an insect repellent on the skin, or using a mosquito repellent like Good Knight or All Out. If possible sleep under a mosquito net. Also make sure that your surroundings are clean, no garbage is accumulated and no vessels or broken objects like old boxes, drums, etc. that can store stagnant water are lying around in your environs.

The prevention of water borne diseases is simpler. Drinks only boiled or purified water and please avoid water/juices or uncooked food outside your home, especially from roadside vendors. Many doctors even recommend that you boil purified water (i.e. aquaguard water) since purification does not kill all the viruses.

Five Common Monsoon Diseases:

TYPHOID: Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection. Those infected carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract and may spread the infection to others by contaminating food or water.
Symptoms: Constant fever up to 104 degree Fahrenheit, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, malaise, cough and slow heart rate
Prevention: Typhoid is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Both inject able and oral vaccines are available to prevent this disease. Drink clean water and avoid iced drinks. Eat food that has been thoroughly cooked. Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled. Avoid food and beverages from street vendors.

CHOLERA: Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Symptoms: Watery diarrhea with flecks of mucous material (rice water), frequent vomiting, abdominal pains and a rapid onset of dehydration
Prevention: Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. Sudden large outbreaks are usually caused by a contaminated water supply. When cholera appears in a community one should hygienically dispose human faeces, make arrangements for an adequate supply of safe drinking water and maintain good food hygiene.
Treatment: Giving a solution of oral rehydration salts can treat most cases of cholera. Serious cases of dehydration need intravenous fluids. Tetracycline is the antibiotic usually used to treat cholera.

GASTRO-INTESTINAL INFECTION: Gastrointestinal infections comprise a variety of communicable diseases and infections, which gain entry through the gastrointestinal tract. It is also known as stomach flu. Gastrointestinal infections are mainly caused by viruses and sometimes by certain types of bacteria.
Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, fever, running nose, cough and headache.
Prevention: Avoid having contaminated food and water. Cook food well and to make sure that they are properly refrigerated. Viral gastroenteritis is contagious and can spread through close contact with infected persons.
Treatment: Drink ample fluids to prevent dehydration. Consult the doctor for the type of fluids you should take. Usually oral rehydration fluid is prescribed. Antibiotics are used to treat the diseases.

LEPTOSPIROSIS: A bacterial disease affecting both humans and animals caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.
Symptoms: High fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory diseases.
Prevention: Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Leptospirosis organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through bruises in the skin. Avoid swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine.
Treatment: Early diagnosis and treatment is very important. Antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms.

MALARIA: Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquito’s bites with the malaria-causing parasite.
Symptoms: Flu like symptoms like high fever, chills, muscle pain, diarrhea come and go in cycles as the disease progresses. Certain type of malaria may cause more serious problems, including heart, lung, kidney or brain damage and possibly death.
Prevention: Using mosquito nets and other mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito bites can usually prevent Malaria.
Treatment: Malaria is treated by chloroquine and other anti malarial drugs.

(ALL THESE SYMPTOMS AND THEIR TREATMENT MAY VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON. SO PLEASE CONSULT YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR IN CASE OF THESE DISEASES.)

So with these few simple but essential steps you can make the best of your monsoon without experiencing the worst of it!