&w=3840&q=100)
Common monsoon diseases: How to stay protected through the rainy season
Here's what to watch out for — and how to stay safe.
Malaria symptoms and prevention during the monsoon
If you feel a fever coming on at regular intervals, don't ignore it — it could be malaria. This mosquito-borne disease spreads through the Anopheles mosquito and is common during the monsoon.
Tips: Use mosquito repellents, keep doors and windows shut during dusk and dawn, and sleep under a mosquito net. Seek medical help if you experience fever with chills and sweating.
How to protect yourself from chikungunya and dengue
These mosquito-borne diseases surge during the rainy season. Chikungunya causes high fever, joint pain and rashes. Dengue presents with intense headaches, muscle pain and dangerously low platelet counts.
Tips: Clear stagnant water around your home, use mosquito repellents and wear full-sleeve clothes. Seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
Prevent gastroenteritis caused by contaminated water
If you've ever felt queasy after eating during the rainy season, it might be more than just a bad meal. Gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria and viruses that thrive in contaminated water. It usually leads to diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps. While most cases are mild, severe dehydration can make it life-threatening.
Tips: Stick to freshly cooked, hygienic food and safe drinking water. If symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately.
Avoid leptospirosis from walking in floodwater
Wading through rainwater? Think twice. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that enters the body through cuts or broken skin, especially when you walk in dirty or stagnant water. It can cause fever, chills, severe muscle pain and fatigue.
Tips: Avoid floodwater. Invest in waterproof shoes and always wash your feet after exposure. If you suspect infection, a blood test can confirm it — early treatment with antibiotics helps.
Jaundice in monsoon: Causes, symptoms and safety tips
Monsoon-related jaundice is often a result of viral hepatitis, transmitted through contaminated water. Symptoms include yellowing of the eyes and urine, fatigue and abdominal pain.
Tips: Drink only filtered or boiled water and avoid eating from unhygienic places. It's a serious condition, so do not delay treatment.
How to prevent typhoid fever in the rainy season
Typhoid spreads rapidly through contaminated food and water, making it a common monsoon risk. Symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain and skin rashes.
Tips: Get vaccinated if possible. Maintain personal hygiene, avoid street food, and isolate the patient to prevent the spread. Ensure adequate fluid intake.
Treating common cold, cough and viral fever in monsoon
You're more likely to catch a cold in humid weather or after getting drenched. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, runny nose and body aches.
Tips: Dry off quickly after being in the rain, avoid sudden temperature shifts and stay hydrated with warm fluids like soup and tea. Medication and rest usually do the trick.
Prevent fungal skin infections in the rainy season
Wet clothes, sweat and damp conditions can lead to fungal infections — especially in areas like armpits, between toes and the genital region. You may notice itchy rashes, redness or peeling skin.
Tips: Keep your skin dry, wear breathable fabrics and moisturise regularly — especially in air-conditioned environments. Use antifungal powders or creams if needed.
This monsoon, take small but smart steps to protect yourself and your family. Stay updated on local weather and health advisories. Carry umbrellas or raincoats, maintain good hygiene and avoid self-medication. While the rains are beautiful, falling ill takes the joy out of the season. Stay safe, stay aware, and enjoy the monsoon the healthy way!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 days ago
- First Post
Summer sets the trap: Doctors call for pre-monsoon malaria vigilance
As summer sets in, doctors warn that heat, stagnant water and increased outdoor exposure are driving malaria risks higher. With the WHO flagging seasonal shifts and behavioural patterns as key contributors, timely prevention and awareness can help avert pre-monsoon outbreaks. read more As temperatures rise across India, health experts are raising alarms over malaria transmission during summer, an often-overlooked seasonal danger. While monsoon months are traditionally linked to vector-borne diseases, medical experts say that summer lays the groundwork for intensified malaria outbreaks, creating perfect conditions for the Anopheles mosquito, the vector of the Plasmodium parasite. Firstpost talked with Dr Satish Koul, Senior Director & Unit Head, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurugram) and Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram to understand how summer conditions increase malaria risk and what people can do to protect themselves. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The summer heat, combined with pre-monsoon showers, speeds up the parasite's development inside mosquitoes. It also increases outdoor exposure and water accumulation—both major contributors to malaria risk.' How summer creates a perfect storm According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, but still poses a grave threat, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The rising summer temperatures (especially between 20–30°C) are ideal for both mosquito survival and the Plasmodium parasite's incubation. Dr Tayal said 'Improper drainage, stagnant water in coolers, gutters, and discarded containers—all typical during Indian summers—become prime mosquito breeding sites, especially in areas with poor sanitation.' Adding to the risk is human behaviour—greater outdoor activity during evenings and early mornings coincides with peak Anopheles mosquito biting times. In regions where people lack access to bed nets, mosquito repellents, or screened housing, exposure increases dramatically. High-risk populations and delayed diagnosis Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or compromised immunity are particularly vulnerable. Dr Koul pointed out that heat-related dehydration and fatigue can further impair the body's immune response, making infections more severe. What complicates detection is that early malaria symptoms—fever, body aches, chills—closely mimic heat exhaustion and viral fevers. In rural or underserved communities, this often leads to delayed treatment or reliance on self-medication, heightening the risk of complications and community-level spread. Seasonal mobility and travel risk Summer holidays often see increased travel to forested or rural areas—many of which are malaria-endemic zones. According to Dr Tayal, 'Travel to such locations without prophylaxis or awareness increases the chances of contracting the disease. Migrant labour movement can also contribute to new outbreaks.' Clinical advice for prevention Both experts stress proactive prevention as key. Recommendations include: Eliminating stagnant water from all containers weekly. Using insecticide-treated bed nets and mosquito repellents consistently. Wearing protective clothing in the evenings and early mornings. Seeking medical attention promptly for any unexplained fever or flu-like symptoms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Consulting a physician for antimalarial prophylaxis if traveling to endemic areas. Climate Change and Future Outlook Climate change adds another layer of complexity. With rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall, malaria zones may expand and transmission seasons may lengthen. As such, community awareness, infrastructure improvements, and preventive care must be at the forefront of India's malaria strategy. As the summer heat intensifies, experts warn that tackling malaria requires not just monsoon vigilance but year-round, seasonally adaptive public health action.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- The Hindu
Anti-malarial drive intensified in coastal areas of Kanniyakumari district
With the active southwest monsoon keeping every place in Kanniyakumari district damp and the water bodies brimming with water, the Kanniyakumari district administration has intensified anti-malarial drive across the district. As the southwest monsoon has moved to top gear in Kanniyakumari district, most of the water bodies in the district, including small ponds in rural areas, are almost full, providing conducive environment for Anopheles mosquito breeding. Consequently, malarial outbreak has become inevitable in the district between June and December every year in the areas where the anti-malarial drive is not carried out intensely. Hence, the district administration has instructed the urban and rural local bodies to deploy the anti-malarial workers to visit every house to check for mosquito breeding grounds while appealing to the public to destroy such spots on their own to contain the possible outbreak of malaria. According to District Collector R. Alagumeena, the anti-malaria fieldworkers deployed by the local bodies are collecting blood samples from the public suffering from fever to be analysed in the Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Those who test positive for this investigation are being given the proper line of treatment by the doctors attached to the PHC concerned. Moreover, similar tests are being conducted for the fever patients coming to the PHCs on their own so as to give them the proper and early medical assistance. 'Fever with shivering, headache, nausea, stomach pain, intermittent fever in the evening are the symptoms of Malaria being spread by anopheles mosquitoes. Hence, the public should visit the PHC immediately following the onset of fever and get their blood sample investigated for early and right medical assistance. The fever patients should not try home remedies or approach the quacks for treating malarial infection,' Ms. Alagumeena cautioned. As per the information collected so far by the fieldworkers, a few malaria cases can be spotted in the coastal areas of the district. Hence, the Department of Public Health and the local bodies have asked their staff to visit Kovalam (1,369 houses), Azhikkaal (522 houses), Muttom (1,461 houses), Vaaniyakkudi (782 houses), Kurumpanai (899 houses) and Enayam (1,975 houses) for sprinkling anti-malarial agents. 'We've planned to conduct this drive to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds between June and September, and hence the public should cooperate with these staff by allowing them inside their houses for inspection and appropriate action,' Ms. Alagumeena said.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Efforts on to achieve goal of malaria eradication by 2030'
Varanasi: The health department organised a training workshop on the treatment and management of dengue, chikungunya, and malaria patients on Thursday. Chief Medical Officer Dr Sandeep Chaudhary along with BHU professors Dr Nilesh Kumar and Dr Gopal Nath trained private and govt doctors and nursing home operators on the treatment and management of the deseases. The CMO said that platelet deficiency is not the cause of death in dengue patients. According to international standards, a patient does not require a platelet transfusion unless their platelet count is below 10,000 and there is active bleeding. Platelet transfusion is not the primary treatment for dengue. He explained that dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by one of four types of dengue viruses, spread by the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. Common symptoms of dengue include high fever, runny nose, mild red rashes on the skin, cough, and pain behind the eyes and in the joints. Some individuals may develop red and white spotted rashes, followed by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc. Patients with dengue should seek medical advice, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can be taken to reduce fever and joint pain, but aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investire è più facile che mai BG SAXO Scopri di più Undo Prof Nilesh Kumar said that there were no malaria-related deaths in the state in 2024. Efforts are being made to achieve the goal of malaria eradication by 2030. He highlighted the measures taken by the govt to prevent malaria transmission and its management. Prof Gopal Nath explained that only certain species of Anopheles mosquitoes spread malaria. When a female Anopheles mosquito feeds on the blood of a malaria patient, the malaria parasite enters its stomach. This mosquito then infects a person with malaria. Fever occurs within 14 to 21 days of the malaria parasite entering the human body. Information was provided on the symptoms, identification, and treatment of malaria patients. State-level PATH-CHRI senior technical officer for Malaria, Dr Amrit Shukla, emphasised the need for immediate malaria testing of fever patients and prompt comprehensive treatment if found positive.
