When It Rains, It Pours Diseases!

Overcast sky, light drizzle, greenery all around as never before, yummy snacks and piping hot tea... all this creates a perfect setup for being - HAPPY!!
Rains have always been known to bring freshness, gaiety and instil that feel-good-factor for nothing specific.
But don’t all good things come with a little bad?
Rainy season provide a perfect breeding ground for germs which may lead to several  diseases affecting a lot of people in that season. Here is a list of different type of monsoon related illnesses, conditions, their symptoms and effective ways to prevent it.

Diseases related to monsoon can be classified in several categories such as

Water Borne - Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diarrhoea

All these diseases are caused by drinking water which is contaminated with human or animal faeces, which contains bacteria, virus or protozoa. The pathogens reach the large intestine through food or water and manifest the diseases.

Vector Borne – Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya

These diseases are caused by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks or sandflies which play an active role in the transmission of a pathogen from one host to the other.

Due to Exposure to Water/Rain: Hypothermia, Respiratory tract infections, Leptospirosis

Due to constant exposure with rain and stagnated water several infections are contracted due to close association with animals and dirty water (Leptospirosis).

Sudden Drop in temperature may also influence health of people, especially those who are allergic to cold or are asthmatics.

Viral respiratory tract infections also rise in this season as people tend to get wet often which again may lead to infection.

Miscellaneous -

During monsoons drowning is the leading cause of death in floods.

Electrocution and electric shocks can also take place when there is flooding

Monsoon brings increased accidents especially with two-wheelers. 

Prevention

• Drink water only from the sources you trust to be clean because during monsoon the dirty water gets mixed with sewage and soil, causing infections. Make drinking water safe by boiling, filtering and by using purifiers.

• Check stagnation of water near house in flower pots, old tyres, coolers etc. Use insect repellents, disinfectants and other measures to stay away from mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and termites. 

• Clean your leafy vegetables under running water, soak them in potassium permanganate or steam them to get rid of germs.
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• Avoid eating roadside food items such as cut fruits, chaat, pani puris 
• Eat only freshly prepared food

• Special attention is required for feet to avoid fungal feet. Keep them dry.  

• Wash your hands before handling and eating food and after visiting washroom.