Cloudy skies, brightened colours, and pitter-patter raindrops make monsoons the most refreshing season. Offering a much-needed relief from the scorching summers, these water-laden winds often act as a saviour. And while a number of people prefer the monsoon season to any other, for some, it brings a wide range of health problems. The diseases in the rainy season that people may suffer can vary from person to person. The severity of the problem also has a varied range. While skin problems in monsoons are common, health issues like monsoon fever can make things a little more complicated.
The good news is that there are a number of simple yet practical ways in which you may be able to avert most monsoon diseases. Staying alert is the first step you need to take if you plan to enjoy the rain to the fullest. Read on as we discuss rainy season diseases and prevention in detail.
Why are We Prone to Seasonal Diseases in the Rainy Season?
Did you know that during the monsoon season, your exposure to bacteria, viruses and infections gets doubled? Due to the high moisture in the atmosphere, the air becomes more conducive to harmful microorganisms and thus, results in easy transmission of ailments. The sultry and humid weather is not only ideal for germs to flourish but also helps in building breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Thus, becoming the most vulnerable season for growing the rise of various diseases.
Let us take a quick look at the most common diseases in the rainy season:
Dengue
In the year 2021, there were over 1.64 lakh reported cases of dengue. Spread by female Aedes mosquitoes, dengue can come with high fever, excessive headache and body aches, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure and fatigue. In severe cases, there may be a drop in a person’s platelet count during dengue, which can be quite risky.
Chikungunya
Another one of the vector-borne monsoon diseases, Chikungunya, causes the patient to suffer from high fever, acute pain in the joints, body chills and severe body aches.
Typhoid
Typhoid is one of the most infectious diseases in the rainy season. Unclean or contaminated food or/ and water are said to be the main causes of typhoid. Fever, sore throat, and congestion are some of the common symptoms of Typhoid.
Malaria
Malaria is also a mosquito-caused disease that can cause high fever, excessive sweating, body chills and even anaemia in some cases.
Digestive infections
Often a supply of unclean water during monsoon leads to stomach infections. Diarrhoea and dysentery, which are more common during the rainy season, can cause stomach aches, nausea and loose motions.
Above all, a lot of people suffer from skin allergies in the rainy season, especially if they suffer from low immunity. Allergies, rashes and fungal infections become more prominent in the monsoons.
>> Also Read: How to Make Health Insurance Premium Payment Online
Monsoon Diseases: Tips to Prevent
Having discussed the seasonal diseases in the rainy season, let us now take a look at the precautions you can take to avert them:
Maintaining Personal Hygiene
The first step in keeping infections at bay is to maintain your personal hygiene. Following are some tips on how to maintain hygiene:
- Wash your hands regularly and carry a sanitiser whenever you go out.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wear a mask when you go out.
- Try to stay away from people who are suffering from a disease, especially contagious ones.
- Carry an umbrella or raincoat while stepping out to avoid getting wet.
Follow a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is necessary all around the year. However, during monsoons, you need to be extra cautious about what you eat, because of the increase in infections in the air. You also need to ensure a few thing like:
- Avoid food that is too oily or spicy.
- Boil water before you use it for drinking/ cooking.
- Wash all the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before using them.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Follow a healthy routine. Exercise to keep yourself fit.
- Food, cooked or raw, must be covered at all times.
- Avoid eating from outside; prefer fresh home-cooked food.
Keep Your Home Monsoon Ready
When you prepare your home for the rainy season, it’ll be easier for you to keep health issues away.
- Ensure that there is no standing water in and around your house.
- Make sure to empty all containers after a few hours, to not let water stagnate.
- Using a mosquito net can prove to be helpful.
- You may also want to avoid sitting in the grass, especially in the evenings.
- Make sure that your house is well-ventilated.
- Make sure that all drains and potholes around your house are properly covered.
Dress Appropriately
Try to keep yourself covered as much as possible. Full-sleeved cotton clothes can be helpful in avoiding mosquito bites. Also, make sure to use insect/ mosquito repellent/creams both in and outside the house.
Avoid Crowds
The spread of air infections increases manifolds in a crowd, so it is best to avoid them. Wearing a mask and following social distancing can go a long way toward keeping contagious infections away.
Take Precaution
A little preparation before the monsoons begin can be a great way of preventing monsoon diseases.
- Get yourself and your family vaccinated against common illnesses.
- Consult your doctor and take vitamin supplements if needed.
- Keep an adequate supply of mosquito repellents and creams at home.
- Spend some time and check for all leaks and cracks in your walls and roofs. Moisture can bring a lot of problems like fungus and mould inside the house.
- Invest in a suitable health insurance plan so that even if you need some medical treatment, you do not have to dig into your savings.
It’s Better to be Prepared!
For many of us, the onset of the monsoons means more trips to the hospital. The various contagious diseases that are in the air during the rainy season can sometimes become rather serious. Taking some simple precautions can help you keep such illnesses at bay. However, despite your best efforts, a trip to the hospital may not be averted. Therefore, apart from following the tips on rainy season diseases and prevention, make sure to safeguard yourself with the right health insurance policy.
While a regular health plan will cover the costs of in-hospital expenses, investing in a policy, especially for vector-borne diseases, can also come in very handy. You can consider our Care Supreme health insurance for comprehensive coverage with sum insured up to 15 lakh. However, doing a little research will help you in choosing the right coverage.
Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.
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