Tips to keep common monsoon diseases at bay

Here are the diseases that are most likely to affect you this monsoon and tips to keep them at bay.

By: Pavitra Sampath | | Updated: October 23, 2015 3:43 pm

The drop in temperature is definitely a welcome relief, but as the summers leave making way for the monsoons, it also brings with it a host of illnesses including viral fever, common cold and more serious conditions like typhoid, hepatitis A and E, leptospirosis and cholera.

According to the statistics recorder at SRL Diagnostics, the number of typhoid cases has shot up by a whopping 119% between January to May (8000 in January and 17,520 in May). Similarly, the number of people infected with conditions like malaria and leptospirosis has also shot up. While the rise in the number of such diseases is common during monsoon, doctors fear that there may be a sudden spurt in numbers.

Here are some conditions you should stay safe from this monsoon:

Hepatitis A and E

These viral diseases spread through unclean food and water. The symptoms include an increase in body temperature, body ache, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. The patient’s skin, nails and eyes tend to appear yellow in color. A person will see these symptoms in about 4 – 6 days after they experience the initial symptoms. When this state arises, it’s called jaundice. Read more about hepatitis A and E.

Typhoid

Typhoid is usually caused by Salmonellae typhi bacteria. The bacteria are discharged from the body through stool, and infects a person if they eat food contaminated with the bacteria. Fever lasting for more than a few days, headache, diarrhoea and abdominal pain followed by a rash in the second week are common symptoms of typhoid. Find out all you need to know about typhoid.

Leptospirosis

One of the most common monsoon illnesses, leptospirosis, is mostly triggered by walking in dirty water. This bacterial disease is spread by a virus that is present in the feaces of rats and can infect humans fairly quickly. It’s symptoms include high fever and chills with severe headaches and body ache, charted by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. If not looked after it could be fatal. Know more about leptospirosis.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cholera.

Tips to prevent the condition:

During the monsoon it is advisable not to eat out or at roadside stalls, mainly because one rarely knows how clean the cook is or where they get the water they use for cooking.

In the case of dengue, prevention is the only way to keep away from the virus. Most importantly, remember that self-medication is not a good option in the case of dengue. Timely diagnosis and treatment is the key to prevent its complications.
Avoid eating ice creams that are unbranded or made and sold on roadside stalls. This kind of ice cream is a great place for the typhoid causing bacteria to harbor itself.
Avoiding walking in puddles and dirty water this monsoon. If you do, take a shower once you get home taking care to wash the crevices between your toes thoroughly.

With inputs from: SRL diagnostics.

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Published: June 17, 2014 3:22 pm | Updated:October 23, 2015 3:43 pm

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