Moonsoon Ailments

What can you do to avoid it? Here is easy to read advice to you!
Avoid things which are Filthy and stay Healthy!

The number of patients suffering from diseases rises remarkably in the monsoon months due to diseases, aches and pains. Contamination of water due to lower levels and unhygienic conditions in cities are very often the cause of many monsoon ailments. Diseases like diarrhea, gastroenteritis and skin conditions rear their ugly heads in these months. Asthma and arthritis also aggravate because of excessive humidity. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) Health Department statistics reveal each year, the presence of a host of bacterial and viral infections causing diseases like malaria, jaundice, gastroenteritis and typhoid in water. A major chunk of such patients happen to be children.

These and many other diseases are more commonly found in the monsoons because the first few rain showers bring along with them obnoxious gases as well as the air borne germs, thus accumulating in the lakes and other areas, causing contamination of water. In severe monsoons the drain pipes clog and overflow, sometimes mixing with the water pipes and causing diseases. Even getting wet in the rains can give rise to cough, colds, fevers as well as body and joint pain. Sudden change of temperature from extreme heat to cold can also precipitate viral infection. Collection of water in pot holes and stagnation of water serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread diseases like malaria. There's leptospirosis which, during the monsoon can prove fatal. Caused by rat urine, it's very common among people who walk bare feet in dirty water. There's also the threat of Hepatitis A and E. Heavy doses of antibiotics manage to get rid of ailments but also leave a person riddled with side effects. The best medicine that is recommended for monsoon ailments is a lot of caution. Avoid eating roadside food, try not to get wet in the rains and wear proper footwear which will offer you not only adequate protection but also grip on the roads.

Playing it safe

• Maximum infections during this season are water borne and hence do not drink water, which is not properly boiled and stored. Drinking water should be properly boiled and properly filtered. Store in a clean, covered container. It is best advice to drink warm water with the meals for easy digestion. Storing drinking water in copper or silver utensils sterilises the water.

• Avoid eating raw vegetables and food items sold roadside. Avoid consuming food that is exposed to the surroundings for quiet a long time since food that is exposed for a long time are contaminated by the germs, which if enter the body, may cause various infections. Flies that are the most common carriers of germs mostly cause contamination. Therefore remember to cook the vegetables well and steam them properly to kill the germ content in them, if any.

• Strictly maintain hygiene standards. Avoid stagnation of water. It's a breeding ground for falciparum malaria. Prohibit mosquito breeding since they are also carriers of deadly germs. Do not let water accumulate in your surroundings. Put a few drops of Kerosene or phenyl in stagnant water to check the undesired mosquito breeding. Mosquito nets should be used wherever possible.

• Proper collection, transport, treatment and secured disposal of garbage. Disinfection of contaminated work areas.

• Effective rodent control measures.

THIS IS GENERAL INFORMATION ON DISEASE. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MORE DETAILS AND TREATMENT.

Compiled by –Santosh  Ghodinde ,Community Pharmacist, Dhanwantari Medical, Panvel.