There is a definite increase in the number of patients with various ailments in the monsoons, says S. Budhiraja, chief of internal medicine, Max Healthcare, New Delhi. He adds: This is basically due to two causes: contaminated food and water, or mosquitoes. Food and water get more easily contaminated as substances from leaking sewage pipes mix with overflowing rainwater. The rains also cause puddles everywhereideal for mosquitoes to breed. So malaria, dengue, typhoid, leptospirosis, dysentery, all become part of the daily household vocabulary.
The symptoms are dangerously common, and easy to dismiss. Shivering and fever is common to all, and should not be taken lightly, emphasizes Dr Budhiraja, adding This could be a sign of a mild viral cold. But it could as well be typhoid or malaria.
This is the season when colds should not be ignored. Yet, they are relatively easy to prevent with simple commonsense measures, such as maintaining hygiene, eating and drinking safe food and water, and using mosquito nets and repellents.
TYPHOID
Symptoms Typhoid is endemic through most of north India and is characterized by high fever with chills, sometimes even cough and abdominal pains. About 10% of all cases could be fatal.
Cause Salmonella typhi bacteria, of which there are currently as many as 107 different strains. It spreads through water con taminated by urine and faeces. The source of infection could also be contaminated shellfish, vegetables grown in night soil or even contaminated milk and milk products.
Treatment Antibiotics work well when administered early. Some strains are antibiotic-resistant.
Prevention Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or cooking, and after visiting the bathroom. Drink only sterilized water and cook food thoroughly. Consume boiled or sterilized milk. Pre ventive vaccine for typhoid is 60% effective.
DIARRHOEA
Symptoms Its one of the most common monsoon ailments. In more severe cases, the patient vomits and has cramps. In extreme cases, it could result in dehydration and kidney failure.
Cause Its mostly viral, although if the diarrhoea is due to cholera then the cause is bacteria Vibrio cholerae. Both the virus and the bacteria spread through water.
Treatment Constant hydration by oral rehydration salts or good old nimbu pani. In severe case, the patient may need to be hospi talized and treated with another solution called Ringers lac tate. In some cases antibiotics also work. It may be common, but it is lethal nonetheless. Without treatment, one in two people could die.
Prevention Drinking safe water is key. It is important to ensure that food is well-cooked and that raw food such as salads is washed with safe drinking water, not just tap water.
JAUNDICE (HEPATITIS A & E)
Symptoms The yellow eyes are a giveaway. Other symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhoea. Although in most people it has no long-term effects, it can cause liver failure and death in pregnant women.
Cause The virus causing hepatitis A and E spreads usually by food or water contaminated by the feaces of a person suffering from hepatitis A. Food cooked by an infected person is a common way of spreading the virus.
Treatment Rest and plenty of fluids.
Prevention The hepatitis A vaccine is 90-100% effective. Wash hands with soap and water before eating, after going to the bath room or after changing a diaper. Ensuring the person who cooks and/or serves food in the household maintains the same diligent level of hygiene.
MALARIA
Symptoms It affects almost two in every 1,000 people. Shivering, high fever, headaches and vomiting are classic symptoms. Pregnant women are at high risk.
Causes It is caused by a parasite called plasmodium which is spread by mosquito bite. There are four types of malariaPlasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P.
ovale. P. falciparum and P. vivax are the most common. P. falciparum is by far the most deadly type of malaria infection.
Treatment Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with anti-malarial drugs.
Prevention Use mosquito nets or mosquito repellents especially at night.Water should not be allowed to stagnatethis encourages mosquito breeding.
DENGUE
Symptoms Sudden high fever, headaches, joint and muscle aches. In severe cases, rashes appears on the legs and chest. Some people have only mild symptoms that can be mistaken for viral flu. Children are particularly vulnerable.
Causes One of four viruses that are spread by the bite of the Aedes mosquito.
Treatment There is no cure for dengue. Untreated, about a fifth of patients could die. Patients need hospital care, which involves plenty of fluids. In severe cases, the blood platelet count drops drastically and transfusion may become necessary.
Prevention Aedes mosquitoes bite more during the day, so it is important to be protected at all times. The only other way to control or prevent dengue is to block their breeding. It is essential not to let water stagnate in and around the house in any form and put a little bit of kerosene in water storage tanks.
CHIKUNGUNYA
Symptoms It is now endemic in India, and often reaches epidemic levels during the monsoon. Symptoms are similar to dengue, with fever and severe joint pain.
Causes It is caused by a virus of the Togaviridae family, and like dengue, is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Treatment Like dengue, there is no treatment. Plenty of rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs drugs for joint aches are usually prescribed.
Prevention As with dengue, prevent water from stagnanting around the house, and keep yourself protected with mosquito repellents.
Fungal skin infections are common between May and September. Fungus thrives in humidity and when wet skin folds and rubs against itself, fungi and yeast breed, says Ramji Gupta, consultant der matologist, Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. Simple precautions can help. If you cant wear sandals, air your feet whenever possible, rather than locking them in closed shoes, made worse with nylon or synthetic socks, says Dr Gupta. Soaking your feet in warm water with 3-4 capfulls of betadine solution is a good home remedy to ward off infections.
Yeast infections in the underarm, groin and under the breast are due to moisture. They manifest as macerated itchy white patches. Visit a dermatologist who will probably prescribe oral antifungals.
We sweat profusely during monsoon months. Guard yourself against sweat rash, or Miliaria crystalline, which occurs when sweat glands get blocked. Another common ailment is prickly heat which commonly appears on the neck, groin and armpits.
Ringworm or tinea
These ring-like lesions are a form of fungal infection. They appear in the underarm or around the waist as itchy, irregular round patches that are reddish in colour. Diabetics are more prone and while palm and sole infections take a month to heal, others subside within a few weeks. Treatment is with an antifungal ointment.
Athletes foot
It is a bacterial-fungal infection that erupts when feet are wet for hours, especially after exposure to dirty water. In severe cases, the skin turns whitish or greenish, itches and emits a foulsmelling discharge or pus. Staying dry and carrying a change of footwear to the office will help.
The key to monsoon-related infections lies in keeping the body dry and though this sounds simple, in a practical sense, it may not be easy to follow, says Dr Gupta.
Allergies from insect bites
These are at an all-time high during the rains, especially in children. An easy way to circumvent allergies is to wear full-sleeved clothes and to use a mosquito repellent or a local antibiotic steroid cream. Paederus dermatitis is caused by an insect called Paederus which sprays toxins, leaving the skin discoloured with reddish patches that cause a burning sensation. Being a toxic reaction, an antibiotic cream helps.
Scabies is the result of mite infestation. A sprinkling of red bumps or a rash on hands, wrists, underarms and abdomen are the first signs, and being contagious, need immediate intervention.
Pediculosis
This odd-sounding ailment has nothing to do with feet. It means lice infestation of hair and is the result of damp hair being tied up too long.
Essentially, to ward off skin infections, avoid moisture, dampness and sweat.
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