The monsoon brings an end to the scorching heat, cool winds, fresh blooms, and also the fear of various infectious diseases ? It includes infections that are as simple as the common cold to serious ones like cholera. In this blog, we will go over all you need to know about monsoon diseases, prevention, and cure to help you keep yourself and your family safe by being prepared for any kind of health concerns.
The monsoon season, often known as flu season, provides the perfect breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. The danger of infection in rainy seasons for kids and adults is higher than in other seasons due to humidity, dirt, and stagnant water acting as means of reproduction for numerous viruses and bacteria. As a result, adopting a healthy lifestyle while also maintaining hygienic living conditions is a good precautionary measure at this time of the year. Keep reading to find out about the top 5 most common monsoon diseases and how you can prevent them.
Top 5 Most Common Monsoon Diseases
The best way we can take care of children in the monsoon is by being aware and ready for anything that could happen. Listed below are some of the most common monsoon season infections and tips on how they are prevented and cured.
- Common cold
The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by a virus. More than 200 viruses can cause this infection. However, the most frequent type of virus that causes the common cold is the Rhinoviruses.
Tips for cold prevention:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap or an alcohol-based sanitiser.
- Take care of your gut health by eating probiotic foods like yogurt, or by taking a daily probiotic supplement.
- Avoid people who are sick.
- Reduce touching your face with infected hands. The mucus glands are the primary entryway for the virus that causes monsoon viral fever symptoms.
Treatment for the common cold
The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by a virus. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. Viruses like the common cold, for example, usually just need to run their course. You can treat the infection’s symptoms, but you can’t treat the infection itself. Over the counter medication with lots of rest and fluid replenishment, help alleviate the symptoms.
- Malaria
Malaria is one of the most common monsoon-related diseases that is spread by mosquitoes reproducing in stagnant water. It is contracted when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites you. There are four types of malaria parasites that these mosquitoes carry. They include: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malaria.
Tips to prevent malaria
- Wear full sleeve clothing in areas prone to mosquitos.
- Use mosquito repellent creams and electronic mosquito repellent devices.
- Make sure there are no open stagnant water sources in and around your home.
Treatment for malaria
Prescription medications are used to kill the parasite that causes malaria. Various factors like where they were infected, their age, their medical history and the severity of the symptoms they present, will influence the types of medications used and the length of treatment.
Read more : Wondering why Malaria is so Common? Learn more about its symptoms and Treatment
- Dengue
Female mosquitoes, primarily of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Aedes albopictus, spread the dengue virus (also known as DENV). The tiger mosquito (Aedes Aegypti), which has black and white stripes and bites early in the morning or at dawn, spreads this disease.
Tips to prevent dengue
- Since dengue is also caused and transmitted by mosquitoes make sure to follow all that you would follow to avoid malaria.
- The dengue mosquito bites primarily during the day and breeds in clean, fresh water. Hence, any water buildup should be avoided.
Treatment for Dengue
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever in rainy seasons or any other season. You will need plenty of rest and fluids to recover from dengue. Over the counter drugs to reduce the symptoms can also be taken.
- Typhoid
Typhoid is another cause of fever in rainy seasons. It is a waterborne bacterial infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria, which creates ulcers in the intestine while also causing fever, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue etc. This disease is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water contaminated with an infected person’s faeces.
Tips to prevent typhoid
- Ensure that you are drinking clean, safe bottled or boiled water.
- Boil water and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.
- Thoroughly wash your hands before eating/ entering the kitchen.
- Do not swim in contaminated water
Treatment for typhoid
The only effective treatment for typhoid fever is antibiotic therapy. Other treatments include drinking plenty of water to alleviate discomfort, and surgery is recommended if the condition worsens.
- Cholera
Cholera is caused by consuming food or water infected with the Vibrio cholera bacteria. It’s linked to diarrhoea, which can kill in a matter of hours if left untreated. According to the World Health Organisation, 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera occur worldwide each year.
Tips to prevent cholera
- Only drink unbroken-seal bottled water and bottled carbonated beverages.
- Always use soap to wash your hands.
- Clean food preparation areas and equipment with soap and safe water and allow them to dry fully before using them.
Treatment for cholera
Cholera needs to be treated right away since it can kill you in a matter of hours. Rehydration, IV injections, antibiotics, and/or zinc supplements are all part of the treatment.
At the end of the day, prevention is always better than cure. Always keep a watchful eye out for mosquitoes and contaminated water as they are the main reason for rainy season problems, and precautions against them is the need of the hour.
If you have a fever in rainy season or present with any monsoon viral fever symptoms, make sure you seek immediate medical attention. Only your doctor can tell you if you have a serious condition or not. If you ever suspect any of the above diseases in yourself or your family/friends, reach out to the best hospital in Bangalore for quality care and assistance. Visit Ayu Health to book an appointment or call us at +91 – 6366 100 800 for a consultation.
If you need additional information or would like to speak with a professional, feel free to contact us right away at +91 636-610-0800 or book an appointment on our website.
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About the Author
Dr. S. Goel
Dr. S. Goel is a renowned Internal Medicine Specialist currently practicing at Ayu Health, Bangalore. He is a Specialist in Internal Medicine, Diabetes HTN, Paediatric Care, and Family Medicine.