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The thought of monsoon fills our minds with a sense of relief. While the monsoons between July and September mean pleasant weather in India, the monsoon period is also called the flu season for various reasons. It is a fertile breeding season for harmful microorganisms because of the humid weather, still water, and muddy places. Thus, a healthy lifestyle, proper self-hygiene, and maintaining clean surroundings are essential to reduce the risks of monsoon diseases in India.
Reasons Why Diseases Spread Faster in Monsoon in India
During monsoon season, the air is humid, increasing your risk of exposure to bacteria, viruses, and other infections. The infection risk is two times higher than in the rest of the year. The humid weather condition becomes a favourable environment for harmful microbes to thrive, thus actively spreading the germs and transmitting diseases. These diseases can be airborne, waterborne, or can result from mosquito bites.
Although not all monsoon diseases are dangerous, it is never an unwise decision to consult an internist in Sarjapur Road. Several monsoon diseases remain undiagnosed unless they cause any major health adversity. Consulting your physician will decrease this risk and help you stay cautious.
The Most Common Monsoon Diseases: Symptoms and Prevention
Monsoon season brings humidity to the air. It results in the spread of diseases through airborne pathogens. Usually, four mediums can carry infectious germs during monsoon season in India: air, water, mosquitoes, and contaminated food. Let us understand the types of diseases these mediums can cause while knowing their symptoms and preventive measures.
Airborne Diseases
Such air transmissions can cause viral fever, common flu and cold, sore throat, cough, etc. Even though they are usually mild and cause minor infections in adults, children and aged people are at higher risk of getting severely infected because of their weak immune systems.
Here is a brief overview of the most common airborne diseases:
Common Cold, Flu, Cough
The rainy season causes sudden fluctuations in the temperature, resulting in viral infection, which is the most common in this season. You are at greater risk of getting affected by them if your immunity is weak. This can also cause respiratory distress.
Symptoms: These include runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, watery eyes, chills, sneezing, throat irritation, difficulty swallowing food, etc.
Influenza
It is commonly known as the seasonal flu, which is more or less the same as the common cold but, sometimes, a little more adverse. It can easily contaminate one person to another, especially if the infected person sneezes in the air without covering their mouth.
Symptoms: These include symptoms of a common cold, sometimes accompanied by weakness or fatigue.
Staying Safe from Airborne Diseases
The transmission of airborne diseases usually happens from one person to another. These diseases can be avoided if you remain cautious and take some preventive measures including:
- Covering your mouth while coughing or sneezing
- Drinking warm water every few hours
- Carrying your water bottle
- Keeping your children away from people who are sick
- Washing your and your kids’ hands and feet thoroughly after returning from outdoors
- Keeping your home well-ventilated.
Waterborne Diseases
World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that over 3.4 million people in India are affected by waterborne diseases during monsoon. Children are more prone to these infections due to their developing immunity.
Below is a brief overview of the most common waterborne diseases:
Typhoid
Poor sanitation boosts S. Typhi bacteria, causing this waterborne disease. It can also spread if you eat spoilt or uncovered food or drink contaminated water.
Symptoms: Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, joint pain, high fever, headache, and sore throat
Cholera
Improper sanitation and contaminated food are the main reasons for this disease.
Symptoms: Loose motion or diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, muscle cramps, etc.
Leptospirosis
This waterborne infection is also known as Weil’s Syndrome. The main reason behind this disease is contact with mud or dirty water; especially if your open wounds or cuts come in touch with such contamination, the risks increase. So, remember to cover your wounds properly, especially during monsoon when you are going outdoors. Early intervention is necessary in leptospirosis, or it can lead to severe health issues like kidney or liver damage.
Symptoms: High fever, meningitis or membrane inflammation around the brain and spinal cord, headache, shivers, and muscle pain
Jaundice and Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness which can cause jaundice. Poor sanitation, consuming contaminated water and food, and unhealthy eating habits are the primary reasons for this disease, which can also result in liver swelling (inflammation). In June 2019, Cuttack City in Odisha experienced 38 alleged cases of jaundice because of poor sanitation.
Symptoms: Liver dysfunction, yellowish discolouration of the sclera (the white colour part of the eyes), yellow urine, stomach pain, white stool, weakness, and fatigue.
Gastro-intestinal Infections
Consuming contaminated water, and stale, or uncovered food can cause gastrointestinal infections. You can opt for drinking boiled water and storing your food in a hygienic spot.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and nausea
Staying Safe from Waterborne Diseases
The below-stated preventive measures can reduce the risk of waterborne disease:
- Drink boiled water
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption
- Keep your food covered
- Try to avoid food from outside, especially from roadside stalls
- Maintain environmental as well as personal hygiene
- Wash your hands frequently or carry hand sanitiser
- Ensure covered drainage system or potholes around your neighbourhood
- Vaccinate your children beforehand
Mosquito-borne Disease
Monsoon season means more and more mosquitoes breeding on stagnant water on the road, on your home’s rooftop, or anywhere around the neighbourhood. Records have shown India alone contributes to 34% of dengue and 11% of malaria cases worldwide.
The common symptoms of most of the mosquito-borne diseases are high fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, shivers, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, etc.
Here is a brief overview of the usual mosquito-borne diseases:
Malaria
Anopheles minimus genus of mosquitoes breeds increasingly during the rainy season, which is also the host for the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium. They usually breed in streams, ponds, and other water channels. This disease can be life-threatening if neglected. Your body temperature can go up to 105 degrees Celsius for several days during this period.
Dengue
It is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in standing water, like those in flower pots, tires, buckets, tree holes, wells, etc. These organisms can now be found in urban households as well because of urbanisation and the change in landscapes. The incubation period of this fever is generally between 4 and 7 days after getting infected. The initial warning signs are fatigue and fever. Read the blog on "Dengue-Fever" to know about the diagnosis and treatments for dengue in detail.
Chikungunya
Aedes albopictus mosquito type causes this otherwise non-fatal viral fever. They also breed in standing water and can bite you any time of the day. The meaning of Chikungunya is ‘bending up’ because it can cause arthritis symptoms in the infected person, especially joint pain and stiffness.
Staying Safe from Mosquito-borne Diseases
A few precautionary measures that you can follow to avoid the risks of mosquito-borne disease are:
- Using mosquito nets
- Getting rid of stagnant water and cleaning the neighbouring area of your home regularly
- Maintaining proper hygiene
- Keeping your bathrooms clean
- Using mosquito repellent before going outdoors
Monsoon season is also the peak time for different skin allergies and infections, especially if you have diabetes or have a weak immune system. So, keep your skin dry and wear loose clothes as a preventive measure.
General Wellness Tips for A Healthy Monsoon in India
If you want to avoid getting sick during the monsoon season in India, here are a few generic tips that you can follow:
- Proper hydration is important
- Drink boiled water
- Avoid eating outside food
- Maintain a hygienic routine to avoid fungal infections
- Wear light, full-sleeved, and full-length clothing
- Include a balanced diet to keep your immunity strong
- Wash fruits thoroughly and wash and boil vegetables thoroughly before consumption
Doctors usually recommend you have a light meal and wash your fruits and vegetables with some acidic medium like vinegar as they can reduce the harmful bacteria from your food.
Although most monsoon diseases are not very dangerous, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Early diagnosis, basic precautions, and hygiene maintenance can help you prevent these diseases. Consult one of the best internal medicine specialists at Manipal Hospitals, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, if the symptoms are severe and persistent.
FAQs
1. Why is viral fever more common in monsoons?
The humidity in the air and the sudden weather change become favourable environments for microbes to grow and spread easily through the air.
2. How do I protect myself during monsoon if I am travelling?
Wear full-sleeved clothing and long pants, mosquito repellent, hand sanitiser, and masks to protect yourself while travelling from diseases during monsoon.
3. Are there any vaccines for monsoon diseases?
There are vaccines available for influenza, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A; there are vaccines for dengue but they are not available in all regions of the world.
