Monsoons have hit India already and now it is time to be prepared to stay safe from many diseases that this season brings along. Monsoon usually lasts in India till September, starting in the month of July. As most of us enjoy taking those first showers of the season, we should also keep in mind the chances of catching diseases. Our expert Dr. Rajesh Vukkala, MD (General Medicine), Consultant Physician at VINN Hospital, Hyderabad explains some of the most common diseases during this season:
Diarrhoea
Diarrhea or loose stool is a common problem the causes of which can be:
- Viral infection
- Typhoid
- Amoebic dysentery
The reasons for diarrhoea can be unhealthy food and unhygienic practices. Most common presentation for them is that they start with a stomach ache followed by mild fever, loose motions and vomiting. Therefore, we can classify the cause of diseases into two categories i.e. viruses (Viral Infections) and bacteria's (Typhoid and amoebic dysentery). The temperature may be more in a bacterial infection than in viral infection.
Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes are very common in this season and some of the mosquito-borne diseases are:
- Dengue fever
- Malaria
- Chikungunya
The symptoms of these diseases are commonly in the form of body ache, weakness, fatigue and fever that may vary from low to moderate level. They may also cause skin reactions and problems with blood cell counts in the form of low counts of White Blood Cells (WBC) and platelets. Since the virus affects the whole body, it may also affect:
- Brain
- Heart
- Liver
- Kidney
Amongst them, 90% chances are of the liver getting affected. One usually recovers from it within 7-10 days. However, there may be a Post Viral Syndrome in some, where a person may experience multiple joint pains, swelling, difficulty in walking, etc. and it can range from 3 to 6 weeks according to various physical and health factors of a person. It can sometimes also lead to further health complications as well.
Seasonal Flu
These are most commonly experienced later during the monsoon season, around the months of August and September.
- Common cold
- Influenza Pneumonia / Pneumococcal pneumonia
- Swine flu
Every year, there is a protocol that people who are at risk should get themselves vaccinated. People at risk are the ones having chronic disease conditions, who require medication for a lifetime, they may include people with:
- Chronic incurable Lung condition
- Kidney conditions
- Liver failure requiring lifetime treatment
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Cancer patients
- HIV patients, etc.
They have an immune deficiency state for which vaccines may be required. Pregnant women and people above the age of 65 years may also consider this.
Preventive Measures
These are very common diseases many people experience every year and thus, we need to learn how they can be prevented. Dr. Rajesh suggests some of the following measures:
- Avoid eating outside food where you might experience unhygienic food practices being followed.
- Keep your cooking place clean. Boil vegetables properly and ensure sanitization in the kitchen.
- Mosquitoes generally brood in dark humid and dirty grounds. Make sure that such places don’t grow around your surroundings.
- Keep your environment clean and avoid stagnation of water anywhere in your house or cover it up so that it remains unexposed.
- Keep your immunity boosted.
- Good food, good sleep and physical fitness are a must.
Apart from all these diseases, a major disease covering today’s headlines is the Novel coronavirus. Dr. Rajesh says, “Due to monsoon, sanitization is usually compromised due to which there are chances that the curve may go up”. Therefore, proper hygiene, social distancing and a strong immunity are essential during this pandemic as well as to beat seasonal diseases.
