The monsoon season brings refreshing rains and lush greenery, but it also requires us to stay mindful of our health and safety. While it's a time to enjoy nature's bounty, we must also take extra care to protect our well-being.

The monsoons bring much-needed relief from the summer heat, but they also usher in a period of heightened health risks. The increased moisture and stagnant water create ideal breeding grounds for disease-causing organisms, leading to a surge in infectious diseases.

The heavy rains following the dry period facilitate the growth of germs in the environment, thereby increasing the risk of several water-borne diseases and seasonal diseases such as diarrhea, dengue, and many others.

Know Your Monsoon Illnesses

• Typhoid: A bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria, spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weakness.
• Dengue: A viral infection caused by the Aedes mosquito. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, and joint and muscle pain.
• Diarrhea: While diarrhea can occur at any time of the year, poor sanitation and contaminated water during the monsoon increase the risk. Symptoms include loose watery stool, abdominal cramps, mucus in stool, and nausea.
• Malaria: A parasitic infection caused by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
• Influenza: Also known as the flu, influenza is a viral disease that attacks the respiratory system and can result in severe infection. Symptoms include fever with chills, runny nose, aching muscles, dry cough, and sore throat. If not treated, it can lead to difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and seizures.
• Conjunctivitis: Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Due to increased moisture in the air during the monsoon, the risk of conjunctivitis rises significantly. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, pain, and discharge from the eyes.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): UTIs occur in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. They are commonly caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra and multiplying in the bladder.

How to Prevent These Monsoon Diseases

Some effective ways to prevent the aforementioned monsoon diseases include:

• Close windows and doors in the evening, as mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset.
• Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
• Wear full-sleeved clothes to keep your body covered.
• Use repellents containing 50% DEET, picaridin, or para-menthane-diol, as they are effective against mosquitoes and other insects.
• Empty and dry containers such as coolers, planters, garbage containers, and buckets to prevent mosquito breeding in stagnant water.
• Add vitamin C to your diet or use over-the-counter supplements to help boost immunity.
• Get vaccinated against influenza by receiving a flu shot every year.
• Drink filtered water.
• Avoid eating uncovered foods from roadside vendors.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating.

What Are the Signs That May Indicate the Need to Visit a Doctor?

Dr. Anish Mahato, a general physician, advises, "If a patient experiences severe diarrhea (loose motions), persistent headache, or severe vomiting, they must visit a doctor for further treatment."

Most monsoon infections are self-resolving; however, if left unchecked and untreated, they can develop into severe, life-threatening complications. To reduce the risk of these infections, keep your surroundings clean, avoid water stagnation, disinfect standing water, and use mosquito repellents.

Welcome the Rains, Not the Pains: Stay Safe This Monsoon Season!

For more information:

• Book an online appointment with our physician.
• Book our fever package online.

Medically Reviewed by:
Dipendra Shah, PhD Scholar, Laboratory Medicine