10 monsoon maladies

After bearing the brunt of Sun God’s fury for the past three months, all you want now is a heavenly shower that can wash the earth clean. If only, the monsoon would do that!

Eisha Sarkar Posted On Times Wellness on Sunday, June 28, 2009

After the layers of grime settle down and the revelry ends, the problems arise – drainage, flooding, disease and destruction. The monsoon brings with itself a season of sicknesses. Here are 10 maladies that can make you feel under the weather:

1. Malaria

Caused by the protozoan Plasmodium (P.vivax, P.falciparum, P.malariae or P.ovale), the disease is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito, that transfers the pathogen from an infected person to a healthy one.

Symptoms A fever occurs at regular intervals, usually every day at the same time. Headaches and nausea are common along with bouts of shivering. The patient experiences muscle pain and weakness.


Treatment
See a doctor immediately. The doctor will prescribe quinine-based anti-malarial drugs (such as chloroquine or primaquine). These drugs should be taken strictly as prescribed, as over-dosage can prove harmful.

Preventive measures
Protect yourself from mosquitoes by using mosquito repellents and nets. Do not allow water to stagnate as mosquito larvae thrive in stagnating water. Ask your municipal authorities to spray your area with a mosquito repellent and clear any stagnating pools. If there is a lake or pond near your house, then introduce gambusia fish in it. These fish feed on mosquito larvae and can help control the mosquito population.



2. Cholera

Vibrio cholerae causes this deadly disease by infecting the small intestine. With an incubation period of six to 48 hours, symptoms show quickly after infection. Generally caused by food and water contaminated by human faeces, cholera is highly contagious. Flies act as carriers of the disease, which is why the disease spreads faster in areas of poor sanitation.


Symptoms
The patient suffers from severe diarrhoea; stools are watery but painless. There might also be effortless vomiting without any nausea. There will be a lot of fluid loss in the first few hours, causing rapid weight loss and severe muscle cramps. Eyes may seem to be shrunken. Children infected with the disease may be prone to fever, convulsions and may even become comatose. Adults, on the other hand, experience mental apathy.

Treatment
In most cases cholera can be successfully treated with oral rehydration therapy. Prompt replacement of water and electrolytes is the principal treatment for cholera, as dehydration and electrolyte depletion occur rapidly. Tetracycline is typically used as the primary antibiotic, although some strains of V. cholerae exist that have shown resistance. Other antibiotics that have been proven effective against V cholerae include cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, and furazolidone.

Preventive measures
Immunisation to cholera lasts for about six months. A person vaccinated for the first time should be immunized again after 10 days. In areas prone to cholera, all water should be boiled and food should be well cooked. All eatables should be covered and flies should be kept at bay.
3. Typhoid

The disease, caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, is highly infectious. The bacteria are present in human faeces, and a healthy person may fall prey to the disease by consuming contaminated food and water (this is known as the faeco-oral route). Some patients carry the infection in their gall bladder even after the disease is cured. The pathogen is the excreted and flies then act as carriers/ vectors, contaminating food and water.

Symptoms
The first indication of the disease is a prolonged fever that begins to rise on the fifth day. Headache and confusion are common along with severe abdominal pain. By the second week, the patient could develop a rash. There might also be bouts of constipation followed by diarrhoea.

Treatment
Most doctors prescribe ciprofloxacin for non-pregnant adults. The patient should be isolated and will need to be nursed. The patient's fluid intake should be high to prevent dehydration causeddiarrhoea.

Preventive measures
If you live in areas prone to contagious diseases, getting yourself vaccinated against typhoid will keep you safe. Always consume boiled water and avoid egg yolks and raw vegetables in salad (unless thoroughly washed). Eat hygienically prepared foods.

4. Hepatitis A or Jaundice

The Hepatitis A virus causes this disease, which is spread by the faeco-oral route. Though there have been isolated cases of people contracting the disease by coming in direct contact with a patient, epidemics are caused by flies.

Symptoms
The patient shows symptoms similar to that of flu. High body temperature accompanied by headache and joint pains are experienced. The patient loses his/ her appetite and may suffer from nausea and vomiting. Patients might even have a rash. In three to 10 days after onset of disease, the urine tends to darken while stools are light coloured. A general yellow tinge appears on the patient's body.

Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Patients are advised to rest, avoid fatty foods and alcohol, eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated. Approximately 15 per cent of people diagnosed with hepatitis A may experience one or more symptomatic relapse(s) for up to 24 months after contracting this disease.

Preventive measures
The hepatitis virus vaccination is a must. If you are caring for the patient, make sure to wash your hands properly after coming in contact with the patient's bedpan, clothes and objects of everyday use.

5. Leptospirosis

This disease affects both animals and human beings and is caused by the bacterium Leptospira species. The disease is usually spread through the consumption of contaminated water and contaminated food or by wading in dirty water (as happens in floods) with open wounds.

Symptoms
The patient has a high fever accompanied by cold chills. Severe headaches or muscle ache is common. As the disease intensifies, the patient may suffer from nausea, vomiting and later abdominal pain with diarrhoea. A rash also develops. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop liver failure, respiratory diseases, kidney damage or meningitis.

Treatment
Antibiotics (doxycycline or penicillin) should be administered in the early stages of the disease. If the patient exhibits severe symptoms, intra-venous antibiotics may need to be administered.

Preventive measures
Avoid contact with stagnant rainwater, it is likely to be contaminated by animal urine. Keep all wounds clean and covered; use antiseptics to clean the wound and prevent infection. Avoid swimming in possibly contaminated water (sea, lakes, etc).

6. Influenza

It's not just its swine flu and bird flu avatars that are dangerous. The most common of viral illnesses, influenza seems to take epidemic forms during the monsoon. Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by bird droppings, saliva, nasal secretions, faeces and blood. Infection can also occur through contact with these body fluids or through contact with contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms
Chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

Treatment
People with the flu are advised to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin during an influenza infection (especially influenza type B), because doing so can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver.

Preventive measures
Vaccination against influenza with an influenza vaccine is often recommended for high-risk groups, such as children and the elderly, or in people who have asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. Avoid crowded places and do wash your hands thoroughly and regularly to avoid any kind of contamination.

7. Diarrhoea

It is one of the most common ailments during the monsoon months. It is usually a short-term condition caused by consuming new or different foods and beverages and by consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms
Diarrhoea can occur with symptoms like abdominal pain or cramping, bloating, urgent need to use the bathroom, nausea, dehydration and vomiting. Depending on the cause, it may be resolved within a few days without treatment but diarrhea caused by certain bacteria or viruses may require medical treatment.

Treatment
Fluid replenishment. Fruit juices, non-caffeinated soft drinks and salted crackers are suggested. For those who become very dehydrated, oral rehydration solution (ORS) is highly recommended.

Preventive measures
Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables. Drink only boiled water and avoid drinks and salads at cafes and other crowded places. Opt for hot beverages like tea and coffee.

8. Dengue

Unlike malaria, dengue is an urban disease that is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti or more rarely the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which feed during the day.

Symptoms
The disease manifests as a sudden onset of severe headache, muscle and joint pains (myalgias and arthralgias—severe pain that gives it the nick-name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease), fever, and rash. The dengue rash is characteristically bright red and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest; in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body.

Treatment
Increased intake of fluids orally or intravenously to prevent excessive bleeding. The mainstay of treatment is timely supportive therapy to tackle shock due to haemoconcentration and bleeding. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided as these drugs may worsen the bleeding tendency associated with some of these infections.

Preventive measures
There is no commercially available vaccine for the dengue flavivirus. Primary prevention of dengue mainly resides in mosquito control. There are two primary methods: larval control and adult mosquito control. In urban areas, Aedes mosquitos breed on water collections in artificial containers such as plastic cups, used tires, broken bottles, flower pots, etc. Periodic draining or removal of artificial containers is the most effective way of reducing the breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

9. Fungal infections

Two of the most common fungal infections that occur during this time of the year are athlete's foot and ringworm.

Symptoms
Athlete's foot is fungal infection that affect the usually the front part of the foot. Mostly it is between the toes and the underside of the front part of the foot. It is usually marked by red itchy patches and white flaky skin. This disease is more common in hot and moist weather and is more frequently seen in people who keep their feet enclosed in shoes or socks most of the time. It is caused by a group of fungi called as dermatophytes. They live on protein (keratin) found in our skin hair nails. It is slightly contagious and can spread through direct contact, towels, shoes socks etc. Ringworm is characterised by a raised brownish red patch which can occur anywhere around the body. they are usually marked with ring around it.

Treatment
Antifungal treatments include topical agents such as miconazole or terbinafine applied twice daily until symptoms resolve (usually within two weeks citation needed), however if constantly touched it can leave a dark patch of skin where it had been. In more severe cases or where there is scalp ringworm, systemic treatment with oral medications may be given.

Preventive measures
Avoid contact with water. Wear open sandals so that your feet dry easily.

10. Conjunctivitis

The pinkeye could occur because of allergy or infection, the latter being more common during the rains.

Symptoms
Redness (hyperaemia), irritation (chemosis) and watering (epiphora) of the eyes are symptoms common to all forms of conjunctivitis. Acute allergic conjunctivitis is typically itchy, sometimes distressingly so, and often involves some lid swelling. Chronic allergy often causes just itch or irritation.

Viral conjunctivitis is often associated with an infection of the upper respiratory tract, a common cold, and/or a sore throat. Its symptoms include watery discharge and variable itch. The infection usually begins with one eye, but may spread easily to the other.

Treatment
Warm compresses and artificial tears provide some relief. For the worst cases, topical corticosteroid drops may be prescribed to reduce the discomfort from inflammation.

Preventive measures
Keep your hands clean and don't touch or rub your eyes. Clean your contact lenses well before wearing them.