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How to Prevent Getting Sick From Common Monsoon Diseases?

  • Last Updated On: July 10, 2023
  • 2 minute read

The rains can bring with it a host of diseases. Weather changes, water contamination and stagnating water can all lead to more disease-causing elements as well as leaving us more vulnerable to them.

Here’s What You Need to Know:

The 5 Common Monsoon Ailments

Our immunity tends to be weaker during the rains because of a lack of sunlight and the cooler weather. We also spend a lot more time indoors which could make it easier for us to catch an infection from someone sharing our space. Here are five diseases that thrive because of the changing conditions in the rains:

  • Cold and Influenza: Both the common cold and the flu are cause by viruses. These viruses not only prefer cooler weather, they also make the most of our weakened immunity to thrive and spread. Symptoms of a cold are stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Influenza has similar symptoms but also includes weakness, body ache and fever.
  • Malaria: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito. Rain water collecting open containers, ditches, and other spaces serve as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes causing them to increase in number and spread disease. Malaria symptoms include high fever accompanied by shivering at certain time of the day, diarrhoea, vomiting, and weakness.
  • Dengue: Dengue is also a mosquito-borne disease spread by the female Aedes mosquito. Symptoms include severe headaches and pain behind the eyes, swollen glands, painful joints, vomiting and skin rashes.
  • Gastrointestinal infection: Gastrointestinal infections become common in the rainy season due to contaminated food and water. Bacteria and amoebae from sewage water spread to drinking water due to overflowing drains, leaking pipes that go unnoticed and so on. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and weakness.Gastrointestinal infection
  • Cholera: Cholera is a water-borne disease and like gastrointestinal infections it also spread through contaminated food and water. Cholera symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea accompanied by severe dehydration.

How to Prevent Getting Sick in the Rains

Here are a few simple tips to prevent getting sick at this time of the year:

  • Take relevant vaccines such as Flu vaccination, Typhoid vaccination, Pneumococcal vaccination and Rota virus vaccination.
  • Eat a balanced and nutritious diet to help build your immunity.
  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Keep away from anyone who has a cold or the flu.
  • Don’t let water stagnate in or around your house.
  • Use mosquito nets or repellents to prevent getting bitten.
  • Drink boiled water.
  • Cook your food well and eat it while hot.

Following these tips will help keep you healthy during the rains.

  • Try this One Immune-Boosting Home Remedy Try this One Immune-Boosting Home Remedy

Vitamin C helps keep your immune system healthy. Increase your vitamin C intake by drinking lemon juice with honey daily or eating fruits like oranges, sweet limes (mosambi), guava, Kiwi fruit, and papaya.

For more information on the best foods to eat visit the Nutrition section of the Activ Living Blog. You will also find tips on how to keep a calm and healthy mind in the Mindfulness section.

Dr. Sunil Choudhary

MBBS, MBA, he has 12 years of clinical and corporate experience. Running and Reading are his ways of Meditating. He prefers spending time with his kids and family than spending time on social media.