While the arrival of monsoon provides the much-needed respite from the searing heat, it is also known to open doorways to a wide array of contagious diseases and infections. Usually, these ailments aren’t serious. However, when left untreated, the severity of such diseases may surge considerably, thereby causing a lot of physical distress. Consequently, the piling hospital bills have the potential to sap away the patient’s hard-earned savings.
Thankfully, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from bearing the brunt of such trying situations, simply by owning a comprehensive cover. Many insurers, including Care Health Insurance, offer a variety of exhaustive health covers, which are sure to help you tackle such common, unforeseen adversities in an effective manner.
Prevalent Monsoon-Related Ailments: All You Need To Know
Wondering what are the most common diseases that come hand-in-hand with the rainy season? Keep reading to know more about the illnesses that recurrently plague the masses during this time of year, every year.
Common cold:
As the showers become more frequent, there is a drop in atmospheric temperature, which consecutively results in increased humidity. Such weather conditions provide the breeding ground for a plethora of viruses and bacteria. Hence, the prevalence of respiratory diseases, including the common cold, often surges to peak levels during this season.
Some symptoms of seasonal flu include a runny nose, a sore throat, sneezing, coughing, and difficulty swallowing. These telltale signs may also be accompanied by a mild fever. During such times, it is important to take care of your health and visit your doctor as soon as possible. You can also try out some home remedies which are known to provide relief, such as sipping warm water throughout the day and gargling regularly.
Mosquito-borne illnesses:
Water from the rains can often remain stagnant near your house or in your yard. These puddles can harbour different mosquito species, which may turn out to be carriers of serious diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.
While dengue is a viral infection impacting the patient’s platelet levels, malaria is a plasmodial one that could potentially become life-threatening if left untreated. Moreover, contracting chikungunya could cause your joints to become inflamed, thereby reducing your mobility.
According to the World Malaria Report released by the WHO in 2021, for the region of South-East Asia, India was the greatest contributor. It logged the highest prevalence of the ailment (82.5%), which was then followed by Indonesia (15.6%) and Myanmar (1.6%). Also, the journal published by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control revealed that our country recorded 1,93,245 cases of dengue in 2021.
Some of the most common symptoms of the abovementioned diseases include:
- High-grade fever
- Muscle weakness
- Chills
- Physical pain
For these ailments, prevention is always the better alternative. One way to go about that would be to keep an eye out for mosquito breeding. You can also choose to install screens on your windows, to keep these airborne pests out of your living space.
Also, if you start feeling unwell, be sure to visit your doctor. Based on your symptoms, the medical practitioner may then advise you to undergo certain diagnostic examinations. These tests help you in obtaining an accurate, early diagnosis, which, in turn, aids speedy recovery.
Infections impacting the digestive system:
The consumption of contaminated, unclean water may potentially lead to stomach infections such as:
- Amoebic dysentery, bacteria-induced diarrhoea: Symptoms include stomach aches, loose motions, and nausea
- Typhoid: Marked by high-grade fever, along with stomach distress
- Hepatitis A and jaundice: Leads to an inflammation of the liver, yellow urine, white stools, and stomach pain
Leptospirosis:
You may contract this bacterial infection if your cuts or bruises are exposed to contaminated/muddy rainwater. The condition may lead to high-grade fever, which may escalate into an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). When the disease is left untreated, complications including kidney and/or liver damage may arise as well.
Skin infections:
If you suffer from diabetes or have a weaker immune system, you might be more susceptible to contracting skin infections, especially during the monsoon season. As the weather during this time of year is very humid, skin concerns such as rashes and allergies become more prevalent. Moreover, some people may also suffer from skin infections caused by yeast, fungus, or certain forms of bacteria. Hence, it is advisable to keep your skin dry and opt for loose and airy pieces of clothing.
Monsoon-Related Diseases: Prevention 101
Listed below are a few simple preventives that will help you protect yourself and your loved ones against such common, monsoon-induced ailments:
- Avoid getting wet in the rain by always carrying an umbrella or a raincoat
- If you do happen to get wet, dry yourself off quickly. If possible, change into a different set of clothes
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids
- Don’t step outside without applying a mosquito-repellent cream
- Make sure that your surroundings are hygienic and free of stagnant water puddles
- To avoid water-borne diseases, drink clean, filtered water
- Eat nutritious, home-cooked meals to protect yourself against food-borne illnesses
- Stay hygienic and wash your hands regularly
- Get vaccinated against prevalent ailments
- In a public setting, choose to wear a tightly-sealed, protective face mask and follow adequate social distancing practices
- Take vitamin supplements every day, especially if you suffer from vitamin B12 and vitamin D3 deficiencies
