Keeping Well When Monsoon Dwells

The rains are considered to be one of nature's best gifts to mankind. Water, which is vital for sustaining life on this planet, also spreads many diseases, especially during the monsoons. So here is a list of diseases that can get to you during the monsoons if you do not take proper precautions.

A Few Common Monsoon Diseases :

→ HEPATITIS A: It is a liver infection caused by the 'hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, sore muscles, headache, and pain on the right side of the abdomen under the rib-cage -- where the liver is located. There is nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and lethargy. Skin and the eyes (jaundice) turn yellow.

Treatment. Avoid strenuous exercise; eat small, frequent meals instead of three large meals. Drink plenty of water, electrolytes, fruit juices and broth.

→ TYPHOID: It is a bacterial infection. Those infected may spread the infection to others by contaminating food or water; contaminated fruits/salads/ice-cream may also spread infection.

Symptoms: Constant fever up to 104 degree Fahrenheit, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, malaise, and cough and slow heart rate.

Treatment: Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics. A person will usually get well within 8-10 days with prompt antibiotic treatment.

→ CHOLERA: Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium 'Vibrio cholera.

Symptoms: Watery diarrhea with flecks of mucous material like rice water, frequent vomiting, abdominal pains and a rapid onset of dehydration.

Treatment: Giving continuous solution of oral rehydration salts can treat most cases of cholera. Serious cases of dehydration need intravenous fluids. Many may require hospitalization.

→ MALARIA: Infection is transmitted by mosquito bites with the malaria-causing parasite.

Symptoms: Flu like symptoms like high fever, chills, rigors, cough, muscle pain, diarrhea come and go in cycles as the disease progresses. Certain types of malaria may cause more serious problems, including heart, lung, kidney or brain damage and possibly death.

Many patients may require hospitalization especially, patients having Falcifarum Malaria and in patients with low platelet count.

→ GASTRO-INTESTINAL INFECTION: It is a communicable disease and its infection enters through the gastrointestinal tract. It is also known as 'stomach flu' mainly caused by viruses and sometimes by certain types of bacteria.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, fever, running nose, cough and headache.

Treatment: Drink ample fluids to prevent dehydration. Consult your doctor for the type of fluids you should take. Usually oral rehydration fluids are prescribed. Antibiotics are used to treat the diseases.

Prevention is better than cure. So, taking few precautions will ensure good health.

* Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled.
* Avoid undercooked shellfish such as oysters.
* Cook food well and if refrigerated, make sure that they are properly refrigerated.
* Avoid food and beverages from street vendors.
* Drink clean, boiled or mineral water; and avoid iced drinks.
* Wash hands thoroughly before having meals.
* Have a good bath after coming from outside.
* Prohibit breeding of mosquitoes and flies since they are carriers of deadly germs.
* To check undesired mosquito breeding, do not let water stagnate in your surroundings and if it does put a few drops of Kerosene or phenyl in stagnant water.
* Mosquito nets should be used wherever possible.

→ LEPTOSPIROSIS: A disease affecting both humans and animals caused by bacteria Leptospira.

Symptoms: High fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory diseases which may turn out to be fatal.

Prevention: Humans are infected through contact with water, food or soil containing infected animal urine.

Treatment: Early diagnosis and treatment is very important.

→ Diabetics should not to walk bare feet since the soil on which they walk is a reservoir of all types of germs.

→ Asthmatics should avoid growth of fungi at their homes and places of work..