5 common monsoon infections you can get during rains

Monsoon brings relief and respite from sweltering heat; however, it is also a harbinger to monsoon related diseases. There are many infections which see an uptick this season as the climatic conditions become conducive for the same. Some of the common infections and ways to prevent them:

Dr. Anita Mathew, Director-General Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund says, “Malaria is caused by mosquito bite which transmits the parasite Plasmodium into the host bloodstream. There are two common forms of Malaria seen in our country - Vivax and Falciparum. Malaria, despite being known since the dark ages, is still known to cause severe infections in some and can be severe enough to cause death. The symptoms are fever with chills and shivering, headache; typically, the fever is known to be periodic with patients being ok between the spikes of fever. It can be prevented by protecting oneself from mosquito bites by:

- wearing full sleeved and long clothes
- fogging, decluttering & avoidance of water accumulation to prevent mosquito breeding sites

This is another mosquito borne infection which is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito, which is a day-time feeder as against the night-time feeding of Anopheles mosquito which causes Malaria. It is characterized by fever, chills, severe headache and body ache. It can cause a drop in platelets and can cause dehydration which can lead to complications. The fever is almost continuous with reduction only on taking medication like paracetamol. Prevention is similar to that of Malaria, however, dengue mosquitos are known to have a predilection to fresh water which is stagnant, so water containers for storage should be covered and periodically screened.

It is a bacterial infection which is known to occur due to prolonged exposure to contaminated water and soil, especially during water logging. The water is known to be contaminated with bacteria which is generally from rats/ rodents or dog excretory products. It causes severe headaches, vomiting, bleeding tendency, drop in urination and Jaundice in severe forms. Prevention includes:
- avoid walking in contaminated water
- preferably wear boots which cover your legs
- in the event of exposure, it’s important to wash feet and legs properly with soap & water and meet your physician for preventive dose of medication.

“Flu and other respiratory viral infections are known to increase due to the humid climate. The symptoms are typically cold, cough, fever, and other symptoms like headache. This is known to typically worsen in patients with allergies and Asthma,” says Dr. Mathew.
Prevention includes:
- avoiding crowded places
- wear your mask appropriately
- hand washing and sanitizing
- taking a yearly shot for flu, this is known to reduce the risk of infection