-- Source of Information : Timeswellness.com by Dr Parul R Sheth --
Here are some of the common monsoon diseases that can afflict you and what you can do to stay away from them
Common cold and flu
Cause : More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold but mostly it is the rhinoviruses, which affect your upper respiratory system – nose, voice box, throat, windpipes and lungs. The viruses are spread through air particles that are expelled while coughing or sneezing. Also, the viruses move from someone else's hands to your hands; either directly or through a door knob, while shaking hands, handkerchiefs; from your hands into your nose or eyes.
Symptoms : You can get a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, chills and a headache. In case there is fever it's called the flu.
Treatment : This is a self-limiting illness. You can manage cold symptoms with medications; paracetamol, acetaminophen, decongestants or antihistamines. Cough drops, cough syrups, throat lozenges can give relief. Drink plenty of fluids, sip on hot beverages and soups, gargle with salt water and rest.
Prevention : Wash your hands often with soap and water to stay away from catching cold from others. Stop smoking and manage stress to decrease your susceptibility to catch cold.
Leptospirosis
Cause : Garbage piles, clogged drains and wet soil get contaminated by leptospira bacteria, which are present in animal urine especially rat and dogs. The bacteria can infect you if you happen to wade through water or walk on wet soil with bare feet or work with bare hands in the garden, particularly when you have cuts or abrasions on your hands or feet.
Symptoms : High fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches and vomiting are the symptoms of leptospirosis.
Treatment : Leptospirosis can be treated with high doses of antibiotics; doxycycline is found to be the most effective antibiotic of all. You need to seek immediate medical help in case you have severe muscle ache or bleeding at multiple sites on the body or have jaundice; yellowing of skin.
Prevention : If you are engaged in activities that increase likelihood of exposure talk to your doctor regarding preventive doxycycline therapy before and during the time period of potential exposure. It is safer not to wade in water with bare feet
Conjunctivitis
Cause : Rains activate conjunctivitis or ‘pink eye’ virus. The virus causes inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye.
Symptoms : The eye turns red, starts watering, and gives a prickling and a burning sensation. The infection spreads to the other eye in two days time.
Treatment: The eye recovers completely in about 3-5 days. Medicated eye drops and cold compresses help relieve the symptoms.
Prevention : Remember the ailment is contagious; it can be spread through hand contact when rubbing the eyes. Practice good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. Do not touch your eyes with your hands. Wash your hands often.
Malaria
Cause : Stagnant pools of water especially during monsoon turn into breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread malaria. Parasites Plasmodium falciparum and P vivax cause malaria, which is transmitted by the bites of infected anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.
Symptoms : Headache, periodic chills, high fever etc are signs of malaria. Presence of malaria parasite in the blood can help diagnose malaria. People with falciparum malaria may develop cerebral malaria that affects the central nervous system.
Treatment : Chloroquine is the drug of choice for treating malaria. For falciparum malaria, prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies work well.
Prevention : There is no vaccine for malaria but if you are in an endemic area where malaria is rampant, you can take anti-malaria medications as a preventive measure. Use of insecticidal mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying with insecticide, use of coils, mosquito repellents etc keep away the mosquitoes.
Dengue fever
Cause : Dengue is caused by a Flavivirus, which infects the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that breed in containers or collections of water around dwellings. These are day-time mosquitoes that pass on the infection through their bites.
Symptoms : Fever, skin rash, reduced white blood cells and low platelet count in blood are signs of dengue. Haemorrhagic fever is a complication that can be fatal.
Treatment : Pain-killers, antipyretics for fever and antibiotics for infection are advised.
Prevention : Since dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes, it is important to get rid of mosquitoes using insecticides such as DEET or prevent yourself from mosquitoes by wearing fully covered attire, using mosquito repellents and using mosquito nets. Medicated nets are also available. It is important to keep your surroundings clean and free from stagnant water.
Chikungunya
Cause : This is a viral infection transmitted by the daytime biting Aedes mosquito.
Symptoms : The Chikungunya fever accompanied by nausea, vomiting and chills, ends abruptly after 4-6 days and this is followed by joint pains and joint inflammation, severe fatigue and leg swelling, which can last for weeks and months and in some cases, for years.
Treatment : Painkillers can give relief for prolonged joint pains.
Prevention : Mosquito control is the key prevention.
Hepatitis A
Cause : Hepatitis A virus (HAV) can cause hepatitis A, an inflammation of the liver cells. It is a waterborne disease; spread by water and food contaminated by stool from an infected person. Flies during monsoon help spread the disease.
Symptoms : You may not show any signs of hepatitis A or have symptoms similar to flu such as high fever, headache, and pain in joints, nausea and vomiting. Jaundice or yellowing of eyes and skin, dark yellow urine may occur because of liver damage.
Treatment : The illness gets better on its own. Bed rest, a healthy diet with no alcohol and avoiding fatty foods can help.
Prevention : Vaccine for hepatitis A is available for disease protection. You can prevent hepatitis A by following a strict personal hygiene, washing hands after using the bathroom or after changing a baby’s diaper, before preparing food, before eating, drinking safe water, avoiding roadside food, washing fruits and raw vegetables before eating, covering your food etc.
Gastroenteritis
Cause : Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving the stomach, intestines, or both. Viral gastroenteritis is very common during monsoon. Contaminated food and drinking water are the culprits. Poor sanitation and personal hygiene, failure to wash hands or clean foods; vegetables and fruits, which can get contaminated with sewage or untreated water – all can cause the disease.
Symptoms : Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and mild fever with mild chills, headache at times, muscle ache, feeling too tired are signs of gastroenteritis.
Treatment : The infection resolves over time. Immediate treatment is to prevent dehydration or loss of fluids and electrolytes (salts and minerals) from the body. Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a few hours. Take plenty of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) help to replace fluids and lost electrolytes. Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like toast, broth, apples, bananas, and rice.
Prevention : Adopt good personal hygiene; wash your hands after using the toilet. Avoid unsafe food preparations.
Cholera
Cause : Cholera is prevalent during monsoon season. Vibrio cholerae bacterium causes cholera. The bacteria are transmitted through contaminated food and water. Flies help spread the disease.
Symptoms : Diarrhoea with watery stool and vomiting makes a person weak and dehydrated.
Treatment : Replacement of salts and fluids is the immediate measure. Antibiotics are given for severe cholera infections.
Prevention : Cholera vaccine can protect you for at least six months. Hand washing, avoiding areas and people with cholera, drinking treated water or similar safe fluids and eating cleaned and well-cooked food helps prevent cholera
Viral fever
Cause : The damp weather causes a sharp rise in viral infection.
Symptoms : You can get high fever, body ache, running nose, cough, sore throat, chills, skin rash and fatigue. A viral infection generally lasts from 3-7 days. But your doctor may advice on a blood test if the fever persists for more than three days.
Treatment : Medications are advised for symptomatic treatment. Most viral fevers are not dangerous and are self-limiting. Bed rest and fluid intake make you feel better. Nasal decongestants can help.
Prevention : Viral fevers come in as epidemics and are difficult to prevent.
Typhoid
Cause : Typhoid fever is common during the rains. Salmonella typhi bacteria cause typhoid fever. You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding Salmonella bacteria in their stool or if sewage contaminated with the bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Flies also help spread typhoid.
Symptoms : Prolonged fever, pain in abdomen, headache, and loss of appetite are common symptoms.
Treatment : Typhoid fever is treated with specific antibiotics. Since this disease has a tendency of relapsing in two weeks time, you should take great care. Precautions should continue even after apparent recovery.
Prevention : Typhoid vaccine is available, which can be taken in advance to protect you from the disease. Precautionary measures include drinking safe, filtered and boiled water, maintaining good personal hygiene and sanitation, washing hands frequently, avoiding roadside foods and sticking to proper kitchen hygiene.
References :
- http://www.timeswellness.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=201106282011062717252417427f920e2
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