Monsoon is here, the shower that breathes new life into the earth. Rain brings a lot of things, like the scent of earth, the respite from the heat, the brilliance in beauty wherever you look, the amazing shades of green in flora and fauna, to me it is really good for the soul. Yet it is sometimes not so good for physical health, as sadly it also gives new life to various infections, viruses. The damp, cold atmosphere that comes with the downpour is ideal for such troubles.
Here are 5 most common diseases that take hold of our body and what should we be looking out for:
- Viral Infections: Falling ill with fever, cold and cough during rains in now like a norm. Everybody expects it, so much so that we don’t even bother getting checked as long as it goes away in a day or two. These viral infections as we know are so much a part of our monsoon time, but these infections affect our immunity system.
- Malaria/Dengue: There is a lot of opportunity for water to get stagnant and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. With an increase in their population comes an increase in instances of malaria, dengue. They are known to cause worldwide deaths as well. These diseases cause high fever, chills, body pains, joint pain and other symptoms. They are treatable with a course of medication.
- Fungal Infections: Oh no, it’s not just that things out wrong internally. You may have noticed that even our skin gets affected. There is a rise in fungal infection on the body, which may peel your skin, leave it itchy, cracked or red with rashes. It’s because of the moisture that is retained by places like armpits or between toes. The humidity breeds fungus. Best thing is to wear cotton clothes, stay dry and let your body breathe. If the problem persists check with the doctor.
- Typhoid: During the rainy season chances of consuming infected water and food increase manifold, which issues an open invitation to typhoid. It will give you abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea. Your prescription will include rest and medicines.
- Jaundice: It is the close cousin of typhoid. Symptoms include yellowing of eyes, dark urine, fever, loss of appetite. Again medications and bed rest are suitable. Hepatitis A vaccine may help you skip it for the season though.
But we firmly believe if you avoid illness, do so. Here’s how you can make most out of rainy season without falling prey to its dangers:
- When drenched, remove all wet clothes as soon as possible, take a shower to ditch the germs and get dry
- Wash your hands regularly and clean your feet too, to avoid germs entering body
- If you get unwell, stay home, so you don’t catch more infections, nor do you spread them
- Drink warm fluids as they help keep the body warm and keep the cold away
- Stay hydrated and exercise, because when you sweat you remove toxins from your body and you boost your immunity
Well it’s not rocket science, we all know it as we experience it first hand, but gentle reminders often do a lot more for us. So take care, enjoy the rain, and play it safe.