Wellness Blog

After a hot summer, showers of rain are what we all expect. Although, there is a catch here. Along with the monsoon comes monsoon illnesses, which is a concern for all. So, how do monsoon illnesses arise? What are the causes, symptoms and preventive measures? Let’s find out.

Vector-borne illnesses

Poor sanitation and contaminated or stagnant water are where mosquitoes breed. Therefore, a mosquito is a vector that causes vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, etc. Mosquitoes that are affected with the virus bite people, and that is how it spreads. Though malaria and dengue have overlapping symptoms, they are different in terms of the vector, testing methods, disease mechanism & treatment provided.

Some of the symptoms include the following:

- High fever

- Severe headaches

- Fatigue

- Joint and muscle pain

- General discomfort

- Nausea & vomiting

These diseases are tested using a simple blood test that looks for antigens or antibodies.

Some of the common tests include:

The Dengue NS1 & Malaria Antigen test differentiates between malaria and dengue fever so that suitable treatment can be provided. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) quickly find actionable results without waiting for lab results. It is generally referred to as 'point of care' because the test is used in a doctor’s office or a clinic, immediately on the spot.

Water-borne illnesses

Waterborne diseases spread due to water contamination, poor sanitation and hygiene. It is caused by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Due to this, people are affected by diseases such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A.

Some of the common symptoms include the following:

- Nausea or vomiting

- Diarrohea

- Body pain and aches

- Stomach cramps and pain

- Fever and chills

To diagnose the disease, a doctor is consulted, who checks the patient’s medical history, symptoms and physical examination. Further, a laboratory test is done to find which pathogen is causing the disease.

What are the preventive measures?

For vector-borne diseases, it is important to keep the surroundings clean and adopt some preventive measures, such as:

- Wearing covered clothes

- Using mosquito repellent/nets for doors and windows

- Proper and clean storage of water in containers

- Not allowing water to remain stagnant to avoid mosquito breeding

- Cleaning stored water on a weekly basis

For waterborne diseases, some of the preventive measures include:

- Maintaining hand hygiene by washing hands with water and soap

- Avoid eating outside food, especially road-side shops during monsoon

- Water should be stored safely in proper containers with lids closed

- Consuming boiled or filtered water

- Avoid eating raw, uncooked food - consume freshly prepared hot food

Management and Treatment

Therefore, it is important to stay vigilant and combat the spread of diseases during the monsoon. Clean surroundings, personal hygiene, and other preventive measures are key to avoid getting infected.

At GKNM, our General Medicine Department treats patients with monsoon illnesses. If you are experiencing any symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Your health is our utmost priority.