Monsoon showers are fun but keep yourself protected from illnesses: Dr RVS Bhalla
Faridabad/ Alive News: Each year, we all look forward to this season – the Monsoon, which brings with it relief from the summer heat. But the monsoon also brings with it, a range of infections and diseases. The warm, wet and humid weather is a breeding ground for mosquito-related illnesses, water-borne infections and viral infections are at their peak. All of us, especially, children and the elderly can be affected and need to take precautions at this time of the year.
Dr RVS Bhalla, Director- Internal Medicine, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad highlights key symptoms and suggests some necessary precautions to be taken during the monsoons:
Mosquito-borne diseases
Malaria kills thousands of people every monsoon. It is carried by the female anopheles mosquito.
Symptoms:
– High fever with chills
– Body ache, sweating and cold-like symptoms
– Diarrhoea, jaundice in some cases
Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person.
Symptoms:
– High fever within four to seven days of the bite
– Rashes on the body along with severe muscle and joint pain
– Pain behind the eyes with severe headache
– Loss of appetite
– Bleeding gums
Precautions against malaria and dengue:
– Wear full-sleeved clothes when leaving the house
– Apply mosquito repellent creams over uncovered areas of body
– Use insecticide-treated mosquito nets at night/mosquito repellent mats or coils
water borne diseases
Cholera is usually spread through food and water contaminated by human faeces.
Symptoms:
– Severe diarrhoea and effortless vomiting
– Rapid weight loss and muscle cramps due to dehydration
– Low blood pressure
– Dry mucous membranes
– Loss of skin elasticity
Typhoid Fever is caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the bacteria Salmonella typhi.
Symptoms:
– Poor appetite and lethargy
– Fever, as high as 104 degrees F
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhoea or constipation
– Headache
– Generalised pains and aches
Hepatitis A (Jaundice) spreads through contaminated stool, food, water or close personal contact with the infected person.
Symptoms:
– Fatigue
– Nausea
– Appetite Loss
– yellowing of skin or the eyes
– Dark amber-coloured urine
– Clay coloured faeces
Precautions for Typhoid/Hepatitis
– Avoid food or water from unhygienic places
– Wash hands with soap and water before eating
– Store food/water in covered containers to protect it from flies
– Ingest small quantities of ORS at short intervals to combat dehydration
– Use clan (filtered/RO) water for drinking
Viral Infections
Flu:
Symptoms:
– Fatigue and body ache
– Running nose or nasal congestion
– Diarrhoea
– Cough or sore throat
– Burning sensation in eyes and skin rashes
Eye infection:
Symptoms:
– Gritty feeling in the eyes
– Swollen eyelids
– Irritation and Itching
– Discharge from one or both eyes
– Blood clots around the cornea
Precautions:
– Have a hygienic diet
– Take plenty of liquids
– Keep yourself clean and detect early signs of weakness
– Avoid contact with infected person
– Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly
