Monsoon provides respite from the summer heat. Nevertheless, many diseases, such as the common cold, flu, malaria, chikungunya, dengue, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, and gastrointestinal infections, also surface during this period.
This article covers some common monsoon illnesses, provides tips on how to avoid them, and lists precautionary measures.
Common Cold and Flu
Weather changes affect the body’s immunity and can make anyone susceptible to cold and flu. The common cold is caused by viruses that enter the body through the nose or mouth and infect the upper respiratory system. Flu is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses that affect the airways (nose and throat) and lungs.
Common cold and flu are transmitted through airborne droplets from sneezing, coughing, talking, or touching contaminated surfaces and objects.
Cold and flu symptoms
Cold symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, fever, cough with phlegm, headache, and body ache.
Flu symptoms include fever with chills or sweating, cough with phlegm, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. The common cold is often a milder infection than the flu.
Cold and flu prevention
To prevent these virus infections during the monsoon season, it is important to maintain good hygiene practices.
Cold and flu treatment
People must gargle with warm saline water and do regular steam inhalation by adding eucalyptus oil to the water. It helps to take a hot foot water bath to relieve chest congestion, reduce headaches, and reduce inflammation. One must also take medicines prescribed by the doctor.
Dengue
Dengue is caused by a virus transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus can also be passed on from an infected person to a healthy person through a mosquito bite.
Dengue symptoms
Dengue symptoms are high fever, headache, pain in joints and muscles, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. Dengue fever is not usually fatal, but it can lead to death if it isn’t treated in time.
Dengue prevention
The best way to prevent this disease is to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents, covering the body with a sheet, and maintaining hygiene inside the home and surrounding areas.
Dengue treatment
Dengue treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and may include fluids, rest, paracetamol (acetaminophen), or ibuprofen for fever relief. Doctors may also prescribe painkillers, antibiotics, or antiviral drugs to reduce the chances of developing severe dengue fever complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. One must take proper care and complete bed rest.
Malaria
Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted to humans by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria fever during monsoon season is common because mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
Malaria symptoms
The most common symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and nausea.
Malaria prevention
There is no vaccine available for malaria, so prevention is the best protection method. One must avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants, and sleeping under a mosquito net. When traveling to an area with a risk of contracting malaria, people should take prophylactic medication as prescribed by their doctor.
Malaria treatment
Medical treatment should be undergone immediately. Malaria can be treated with a course of antimalarial drugs.
Chikungunya
The monsoon season is the most critical period for chikungunya, as mosquitoes thrive during this timeframe and spread the virus.
Chikungunya symptoms
Chikungunya’s symptoms include high fever, severe joint pain, and muscle pain. Some people have reported nausea, vomiting, headaches, and skin rash.
Chikungunya prevention
Chikungunya can be prevented by wearing long sleeves, using mosquito nets and repellents, and staying indoors during the daytime.
Chikungunya treatment
There are few treatment options for chikungunya fever, and prevention methods are limited. Treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms with fluid intake, rest, and the use of antipyretics and analgesics.
Water-borne Diseases
Heavy rains and flooding cause contamination of water sources, leading to an increased risk of infections like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, and other gastrointestinal infections. Cholera and typhoid are caused by bacteria found in contaminated water and food. Hepatitis A and E are two types of viral infections transmitted during food preparation in an unhygienic way or by eating contaminated food.
Symptoms
The symptoms of these infections are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
Prevention
- Wash hands before food preparation and every meal.
- Use clean utensils.
- Consume clean and boiled water.
- Avoid street food.
- Eat food that has been cooked properly and hygienically.
- Maintain personal and environmental hygiene.
- Getting vaccinated for the disease.
- Maintain proper sanitation.
Typhoid
Typhoid fever is an acute bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi.
Typhoid symptoms
The symptoms of typhoid are similar to other types of food poisoning. The most common symptoms include high fever, headache, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms may include a rash over the chest and abdomen, constipation, or diarrhea. Typhoid fever can be life-threatening if not treated quickly with antibiotics.
Typhoid prevention
The best way to prevent typhoid fever is by getting vaccinated and maintaining all precautionary points mentioned for water-borne diseases.
Typhoid treatment
It can be treated with antibiotics at home under the doctor’s supervision.
Hepatitis A and E
Hepatitis A is an infection that spreads through contaminated water and food, affecting the liver. Hepatitis E is caused by the infection of the virus, which comes through infected food or water and undercooked meat of the infected animal like pig or deer. This virus comes from the feces of the infected person. It is spread due to poor hand washing habits or poor access to clean drinking water.
Hepatitis A and E symptoms
The symptoms of hepatitis A can be different for different individuals. Mostly, the symptoms include jaundice, dark yellow-colored urine, loss of appetite with weight loss, fever, joint pain, abdominal pain with nausea, and vomiting.
Symptoms of hepatitis E start around 2 weeks after the infection and may include one or more of the symptoms such as mild fever, pain in the stomach, dark pee, skin rashes or itching, joint pain, and yellowish skin or eyes.
Hepatitis A and E treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. The doctor works on clearing symptoms. The body will remove this virus on its own, sometimes taking a few weeks.
Hepatitis E normally goes away on its own in 4-6 weeks by following simple steps like taking rest, eating a healthy diet, consuming a lot of liquids, and avoiding alcohol. Pregnant women must immediately consult their doctor.
Conclusion
Many common illnesses seen in the monsoon can be prevented. Use the proper precautions to avoid contracting illnesses like the common cold and flu, hepatitis, and dengue. Examples of precautions include staying away from stagnant water and rainwater that sit for prolonged periods of time.