MOST COMMON MONSOON DISEASES AND THEIR EFFECTIVE PREVENTION

Cheers to the rain and to the wind that are always potent enough to soothe brain, eradicating all the side businesses and it’s just about you and the falling drops. The sensation of calmness that rain brings with it has no comparison at all, but there’s something extra that rain brings with it, and that is slight carelessness.

We go with the flow of this cold breeze deliberately compromising our health and dietary concerns. The scorching summer heat has ended and now it’s time to get refreshed with monsoon showers. Rain gives us urge to tilt more towards spicy, hot and oily food with elevated number of cups of tea, very much following what our taste buds desire for. But your health can not be overruled by your taste buds indeed. Monsoon season is considered to bring a lot of health and dietary imbalances along with it.

Why monsoons are season of disease?

During this season, higher moisture content in external environment makes oneself more prone to diseases and various kinds of infections. Our dietary intake plays a major role to that how our body responds to these external physical changes. During monsoons, damp and wet climate leads to certain common health problems like:

• Indigestion
• Conjunctivitis
• Typhoid
• Dengue
• Chikungunya
• Fungal infections
• Acne

Most of these diseases are treatable but some are life threatening if not diagnosed and treated well on time. It’s not necessary every time to wait for disease to happen and then get conscious about it. One can avoid these diseases right from the beginning by taking appropriate precautionary measures. Now, let’s peep into the reasons of arousal and common symptoms related to some most common diseases as mentioned above, which comes along with monsoons.

MALARIA

Malaria is the most common infectious disease which is commonly experienced during this season. It is caused by the bite of female Anopheles Mosquito. But, how these mosquitoes and monsoons are related?

During monsoons unknowingly, water gets accumulated into the pits or in some debris lying on the roadside or in flower pots or some containers etc. These sites are stable enough to retain the rain water filled in them for long which in turn provide area for these mosquitoes to breed.

Some common and prominent symptoms related to malaria are:

1.) Muscle pain

2.) Recurring fever

3.) Weakness

4.) Shivering

CHIKUNGUNYA

This disease is caused by Chikungunya virus is typically spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are also known to transmit dengue virus. They can bite throughout daylight hours, but are most active during the early morning and late afternoon.These mosquitoes also breed in clear and stagnated water.

Signs and symptoms of this disease show up after 2-12 days of incubation. Common symptom related to the same are:

1.) Fever

2.) Joint pain

3.) Muscle pain

4.) Headache

5.) Fatigue

6.) In severe cases rash may also be seen

DENGUE

Unfortunately, this disease is also caused by a mosquito named Aedes aegypti that also breeds in standing water and thus explaining itself why this and all above mentioned diseases get suddenly hyped in monsoons only. This mosquito also tends to bite in day time. Incubation period of this disease is about 4-7 days after biting.

Common signs and symptoms related to the same are:

1.) High grade fever; usually goes up to 104°F

2.) Low platelet count

3.) Severe headache

4.) Hypersensitivity

5.) Rashes

FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Micro organisms like bacteria and fungi need damp and wet environment for their growth. The increased moisture content in the environment during this season provides a favorable condition for the microorganisms to grow. For those, who find this hard to believe, they must have made a simple observation, like a packet of bread when is kept outside in this season, easily develop green moulds on it. Similarly, when our body is not taken care properly internally and externally, then it gets very much prone to develop such fungal diseases.

Common fungal diseases that develop during this season are mainly caused by- Ring worm, Tape worm, Pin worm which leads to conditions like Athlete's foot. These Fungal diseases are often seen to show Itching, Rash, Redness, Inflammation, Fever etc.

ACNE

Increased humidity and external heat leads to excessive oily secretion from skin, which makes it oily and greasy thus providing ground for bacteria to grow. Such type of skin invites dirt, pollutants etc. to clog the pores which ultimately cut off the external oxygen supply of the skin leading to skin problems like Acne. Ever since we know, how monsoons bring a lot of seasonal diseases with it, but it is not necessary for us to get affected by any kind of diseases. We can easily avoid getting into a fore math with above mentioned diseases easily by following some steps.

TO AVOID MALARIA, CHIKUNGUNYA AND DENGUE:

1. These diseases are caused by unwanted breeding of mosquito that usually breeds in freshly clogged water in plant pots, nearby pits, tanks, drums etc. So to avoid providing them suitable breeding ground, constantly keep a check, whether there’s any water accumulation in your home or in surrounding.
2. Apart from this, liquid spray like aerosol, are one of very effective way to prevent mosquito breeding.

• It is better to wear full-sleeved clothes so as to avoid mosquito bite.

1. One can use mosquito repellants and nets or other aids available.

TO AVOID ACNE AND OTHER SKIN PROBLEMS LIKE FUNAGAL INFECTIONS

These health problems mainly occur due to disturbed dietary intake.

1. Boiling water - It not only helps to fight indigestion but also kills bacteria internally responsible to cause such skin diseases. Staying hydrated fight many problems at one time. It helps to cope up with ions lost while sweating.
2. Seasonal fruits and vegetables - Nature is way far intelligent. These seasonal veggies and fruits they are not called seasonal because they are arriving in this season only, but because eating these are useful for us to keep up with our internal environment to cope up with the external environment.

• Monsoon often brings urge to have more number of cups of tea with oily foods that soothes our buds. But, these foods are mainly responsible for causing indigestion and skin problems like acne.

1. Wash your face at regular intervals - This does not allow bacteria, dirt etc. to stay on skin for long keeping your skin healthy and glowing.

These were some common problems that are usually experienced during monsoons and a few generic tips on how we can try our level best to avoid getting infected by them.