Why routine health checks are crucial during the monsoon season
The monsoon season, although providing a much-needed reprieve from the blazing summer heat, also brings a slew of health issues. Increased humidity, stagnant water and variable temperatures promote the spread of different diseases. Routine health check-ups are essential at this time for detecting and avoiding illnesses and ensuring overall well-being.Indiatoday spoke with Dr Rashmi Khadapkar, Senior Research Scientist and Senior DGM – R&D Operations at Agilus and Dr Kunal Sharma, Head of Centre of Excellence (COE) and Histopathology at Agilus to get more insights on the topic.advertisement1. Surge in waterborne and vector-borne diseases
Waterborne illnesses such as typhoid, hepatitis A, and cholera are prevalent during the monsoon season due to contaminated water sources. Stagnant water also serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which increases the risk of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya. For instance, Pune reported a significant spike in hepatitis and typhoid infections in May 2025 compared to the previous year.Routine health screenings aid in the early detection of certain diseases, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of consequences.2. Exacerbation of respiratory and gastrointestinal issuesThe damp and humid conditions during monsoon can aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. Mold growth and increased pollen count further contribute to respiratory distress. Furthermore, fluctuations in temperature can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea and food poisoning. For example, Nagpur saw an increase in diarrhoea cases due to shifting weather conditions and poor hygiene.advertisement3. Monitoring chronic conditionsPatients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis may experience worsening symptoms during the monsoon season. High humidity can affect blood sugar levels and increase joint pain. Routine check-ups assist in closely monitoring these conditions, allowing for timely adjustments in treatment plans.4. Strengthening immunity and nutritional assessmentSudden weather changes can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Regular health checkups provide insights into one's overall health and immune function. Doctors may recommend vitamin supplements and dietary changes to bolster immunity.5. Mental health considerationsThe gloomy and dark monsoon days may have a significant impact on mental health, potentially triggering conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and mood swings. Regular check-ups, including mental health evaluations, can help in diagnosing and managing these disorders, thereby ensuring overall well-being.RECOMMENDED HEALTH CHECK-UPS DURING MONSOONA comprehensive monsoon health check-up typically includes:Complete Blood Count (CBC): To detect infections and assess overall health.Liver and Kidney Function Tests: To monitor organ health, especially if affected by waterborne diseases.Dengue and Malaria Tests: Particularly if experiencing fever or flu-like symptoms.Chest X-ray: For individuals who are prone to respiratory issues.Nutritional Assessment: To diagnose deficiencies and suggest dietary changes.advertisementPREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO COMPLEMENT HEALTH CHECK-UPS Maintain Hygiene: Infections can be avoided by regularly washing your hands and keeping your living space clean and dry.Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of clean, boiled, or purified water to prevent dehydration and associated repercussions.Eat a Balanced Diet: Include foods rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants to boost the immune system.Avoid Stagnant Water: To avoid mosquito breeding, remove any standing water around the home.Use Protection: Mosquito repellents and nets are essential to prevent vector-borne diseases.Stay Dry: Change out of wet clothes promptly to prevent skin infections.Food Safety: Ensure that all food is well-cooked, and avoid eating from street vendors during the monsoon.- Ends
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AstraZeneca sets up ₹166 cr Global Hub to boost AI driven healthcare
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India Today
5 days ago
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Why routine health checks are crucial during the monsoon season
The monsoon season, although providing a much-needed reprieve from the blazing summer heat, also brings a slew of health issues. Increased humidity, stagnant water and variable temperatures promote the spread of different diseases. Routine health check-ups are essential at this time for detecting and avoiding illnesses and ensuring overall spoke with Dr Rashmi Khadapkar, Senior Research Scientist and Senior DGM – R&D Operations at Agilus and Dr Kunal Sharma, Head of Centre of Excellence (COE) and Histopathology at Agilus to get more insights on the Surge in waterborne and vector-borne diseases Waterborne illnesses such as typhoid, hepatitis A, and cholera are prevalent during the monsoon season due to contaminated water sources. Stagnant water also serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which increases the risk of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya. For instance, Pune reported a significant spike in hepatitis and typhoid infections in May 2025 compared to the previous health screenings aid in the early detection of certain diseases, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of consequences.2. Exacerbation of respiratory and gastrointestinal issuesThe damp and humid conditions during monsoon can aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. Mold growth and increased pollen count further contribute to respiratory distress. Furthermore, fluctuations in temperature can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea and food poisoning. For example, Nagpur saw an increase in diarrhoea cases due to shifting weather conditions and poor Monitoring chronic conditionsPatients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis may experience worsening symptoms during the monsoon season. High humidity can affect blood sugar levels and increase joint pain. Routine check-ups assist in closely monitoring these conditions, allowing for timely adjustments in treatment plans.4. Strengthening immunity and nutritional assessmentSudden weather changes can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Regular health checkups provide insights into one's overall health and immune function. Doctors may recommend vitamin supplements and dietary changes to bolster immunity.5. Mental health considerationsThe gloomy and dark monsoon days may have a significant impact on mental health, potentially triggering conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and mood swings. Regular check-ups, including mental health evaluations, can help in diagnosing and managing these disorders, thereby ensuring overall HEALTH CHECK-UPS DURING MONSOONA comprehensive monsoon health check-up typically includes:Complete Blood Count (CBC): To detect infections and assess overall and Kidney Function Tests: To monitor organ health, especially if affected by waterborne and Malaria Tests: Particularly if experiencing fever or flu-like X-ray: For individuals who are prone to respiratory Assessment: To diagnose deficiencies and suggest dietary MEASURES TO COMPLEMENT HEALTH CHECK-UPS Maintain Hygiene: Infections can be avoided by regularly washing your hands and keeping your living space clean and Hydrated: Drink plenty of clean, boiled, or purified water to prevent dehydration and associated a Balanced Diet: Include foods rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants to boost the immune Stagnant Water: To avoid mosquito breeding, remove any standing water around the Protection: Mosquito repellents and nets are essential to prevent vector-borne Dry: Change out of wet clothes promptly to prevent skin Safety: Ensure that all food is well-cooked, and avoid eating from street vendors during the monsoon.- Ends
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5 days ago
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Lancet report highlights gaps in immunisation—no routine vaccine for 14.4 lakh Indian kids in 2023
The report—published in The Lancet Wednesday—said that in 2023, more than half of the 1.57 crore unvaccinated children worldwide were living in just eight countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (53 percent) and South Asia (13 percent). New Delhi: Nearly 14.4 lakh children in India did not receive a single shot of any routine vaccine in 2023, with the country recording the second-highest 'zero dose' kids, according to a new and significant analysis by the Global Burden of Disease Study Vaccine Coverage Collaborators. The lack of immunisation against deadly diseases puts children at risk of life-threatening diseases, says the World Health Organisation (WHO). 'The challenge now is how to improve vaccine delivery and uptake in areas of low coverage,' said lead author Dr Emily Haeuser. She added that the world would miss the immunisation goals for 2030 without targeted, equitable immunisation strategies, alongside the strengthening of primary healthcare and efforts to tackle vaccine misinformation and hesitancy. The World Health Organisation recommends a range of eleven three-vaccine combinations for all children globally, targeting polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Streptococcus pneumoniae, rotavirus, varicella, etc. Vaccine coverage between 1980 and 2023 has globally doubled against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), measles, polio, and tuberculosis, according to the report funded by the global vaccine alliance GAVI and The Gates Foundation. Additionally, the number of children who never received a routine childhood vaccine—known as zero-dose children—declined globally by 75 percent between 1980 and 2019. Their number dropped from 5.68 crore to 1.47 crore just before the COVID-19 pandemic. But since 2010, progress has stalled or reversed in many countries, with measles vaccination declining in 100 of 204 countries between 2010 and 2019. In 2023, an estimated 1.57 crore million zero-dose children had not received any doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines in their first year of life, the report pointed out. In India, under the Centre-run Universal Immunisation Programme, vaccines against 12 diseases are offered free of cost to all children, and in some cases, pregnant women at a specified age, via government hospitals. In a rebuttal to a United Nations Children's Fund, which had shown a high number of zero-dose children in India last year, the Union health ministry had said the 'reports depict an incomplete picture of the country's immunisation data as they do not factor in the population base and immunisation coverage of the countries compared'. ThePrint has reached out to Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava over email for a response to the report. This copy will be updated if and when a reply is received. Independent experts ThePrint spoke with pointed at the disruption in routine immunisation services during the pandemic across health systems that prioritised COVID-19 care mainly. Traditionally, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy among some population groups have constantly remained barriers. 'The number of zero-dose children has been low in some tribal and other religious minority communities due to a reluctance to accept routine vaccines over the fear of serious side effects,' infectious disease specialist Dr Ishwar Gilada said. India now needs to prioritise providing vaccination coverage to such groups, Gilada said, adding that it was paramount that people saw these figures in context, such as considering the population of India. Also Read: Don't scratch mosquito bites. Here is how to deal with itching, redness Countries with a huge vaccination gap India has consistently featured among the countries with the highest numbers of zero-dose children. According to the report, 53·5 percent of zero-dose children lived in five countries—India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—in 1980. By 2019, most of them—52.8 percent of zero-dose children—still lived in only seven countries, which are Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazil, Somalia, and Pakistan. The COVID-19 pandemic, which, in many areas, resulted in declining trust in public health institutions and polarised opinions on the necessity, as well as safety, of COVID-19 vaccines, has had varying effects on public perceptions regarding the importance of routine childhood vaccination and willingness to vaccinate, according to the report. Substantial increases in coverage are necessary in many countries and territories, and those in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia face the toughest challenges, the report noted. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Eli Lilly announces trial results for world's 2nd weekly insulin, aims for launch by year-end
