While rains ushered thrill for other children, Rachana Shenvi always dreaded monsoons. Wondering why? Year after year, she suffered from one of the common monsoon diseases. Rachana, now 22, a Vedic astrologer from Bengaluru, recalls how she battled typhoid at the age of 10, chikungunya at 13, and dengue when she turned 18, all during the rainy season. “A slight dip in temperature can leave me at risk of sore throat, cold and cough. I have always fallen sick during monsoon, especially in my childhood,” she told Happiest Health.
The most common diseases in monsoons
Common monsoon diseases are water-, air- or vector-borne. They are caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. “The germs causing the infection can affect people around the year. But during monsoons, the temperature reduces and moisture increases. The germs thrive and multiply rapidly in these conditions. It increases the chances of infections,” explains Dr Dipankar Sarkar, consultant, internist and intensivist, Manipal Hospitals, Saltlake, Kolkata. Common colds, coughs, runny nose, viral flu and other air-borne infections are more common during monsoons.
The doctor adds, “Stagnant water and floods due to monsoons can breed coliform bacteria. This increases the risk of water-borne infections, such as leptospirosis, cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, intestinal infections, and vector-borne infections, including malaria, chikungunya, dengue, during monsoons,” adds Dr Sarkar.
Studies confirm incidences of common monsoon infections, such as malaria and diarrhea, are higher during monsoons when compared to other seasons.
Another monsoon infection that spreads rapidly with heavy rains and the dip in temperature is conjunctivitis, an eye infection, also known as pink eye. Doctors say that to avoid getting infected, people should avoid sharing towels, clothes, pillows or handkerchiefs. Moreover, maintaining hand hygiene is a must.
Who is at risk of infections during monsoon?
Dr Venkata Ramana, critical care and infections specialist, Kamineni hospitals, Hyderabad, elucidates the people at risk of diseases in the rainy season include:
- Children under 10 years of age and people over 65 years of age
- Immunocompromised individuals (those with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease and chronic lung disease, HIV and others)
- People working in animal or poultry farms
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the risk of cross-contamination is higher while handling raw meat, poultry and fish products.
Dr Vichar Nigam, internal medicine, Manipal Hospital, Kharadi-Pune adds, “Tourists are at high risk as regulating food and water hygiene can be tough during travel.” Dr Ramana adds that those travelling to endemic areas or forest regions must exercise caution.
Early symptoms
Dr Sarkar explains that early symptoms depend on the type of infection. But people must look out for the following symptoms:
- Fever, runny nose, high temperature and/or headache persisting over 48 hours.
- Diarrhea with or without fever lasting for a day.
One must immediately consult a physician if the above-mentioned symptoms have affected many in the neighbourhood as this could indicate an epidemic, warns Dr Sarkar.
Precaution and prevention to be taken during monsoon
When she turned 16, Rachana became cautious of her health and cared for herself while eating nutritious food and exercising regularly. “I still don’t remember even one year during my early adolescence when I didn’t fall sick during the monsoon at all. However, upon turning 16, I decided to try something new. I started having warm and wholesome meals as well as a turmeric and ginger concoction in the rainy season. Gargling with salt and turmeric water on very cold days was another resort, apart from working out. All these must have boosted my immunity,” she adds. Besides, in the last two years, Rachana hasn’t fallen severely sick during the rainy season. Hot showers on cold days have also helped, she says.
Immunity building: Regular exercise, a diet rich in vitamins A and C, zinc and probiotics can build immunity in children and older adults, explains Ridhima Batra, clinical nutritionist and founder of Nutrition Defined, New Delhi. She adds that people can enjoy hot soups as they de-clog nasal passages by increasing the temperature of the airways. Spices such as pepper and turmeric have anti-inflammatory effects, too. Children and older people can also take regular sun baths as Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.
Hand hygiene: Dr Pranab Chatterjee, infectious disease specialist, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore explains stresses the need for hand hygiene as an effective way to keep infections at bay. “Diarrhea, gastroenteritis and other infections can be largely prevented by washing hands properly. In fact, that’s the most effective and cheapest intervention,” he said. He elaborates that simple modalities like washing hands with soap and water can potentially kill microbes such as cryptosporidium (diarrhea-causing parasite) and clostridioides difficile (bacteria that infects the intestine).”
Nutritious food: Consuming boiled and filtered water and warm food stored properly in containers with lids can prevent diseases in the rainy season, explains Dr Ramana. Avoid the following:
- Fast food or street food
- Cold meals
Environmental hygiene: Draining stagnant water and disposing of food waste and debris can also prevent vector-borne diseases, points out Dr Ramana.
Dr Nigam reminds people to take preventative measures against mosquitoes. These can breed in the stagnant water of water coolers or pots and decorative vases in gardens.
Safe travels for the traveller
Clothes that cover people fully can prevent insect bites and chest infections and ensure safe travel, explains Dr Nigam. “Food and water hygiene can be maintained by packing non-perishable dry edibles and filtered water during travel.”
Those who need to travel to endemic areas can take prophylactics, preventive medicine that can be taken five days before the travel and continued for five to seven days after returning. However, Dr Ramana warns, “This medicine should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor by individuals between 14-65 years of age. People with pre-existing liver conditions, allergies to common drugs, and active diarrhea should not take these.”
Takeaways
- Malaria, diarrhea, chikungunya and common cold are frequently-seen diseases in the rainy season.
- Maintaining hand, food and environmental hygiene can help prevent common monsoon diseases.
- Doctors recommend prophylactic treatment and preventive medicine for those travelling to endemic regions.
