Chennai: The rains have finally reached Chennai as a much needed relief from the high temperature. But romancing in the rain is not very advisable as far as health experts are concerned. With the dip in temperature and onset of southwest monsoon, it is raining diseases in the city. Health experts say there is a steep rise in water borne and vector borne diseases.
Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and encephalitis spread due to waterlogging across the city while conjunctivitis, caused by bacteria, is also very common. Other diseases that spread during monsoons are respiratory problems, gastro-intestinal problems, flu, viral fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and chickenpox as germs grow fast in the humid air, experts in the medical field are saying.
Do's and Don'ts
“Cholera, jaundice and leptospirosis have seen a rise this monsoon”, said Dr S Geetha, a city based general physician. Wading through contaminated water can cause leptospirosis. It is an infection commonly transmitted from animals to humans when people with wounds or breaks wade through contaminated water. Fever, vomiting and body pain are the symptoms for this water-borne disease, she added.
“There is a surge in people coming with fever, vomiting, stomach ache and other stomach ailments. Contamination of water and food results in most of these cases. Drinking boiled water and eating hygienic food prepared at home can help reduce contracting such diseases”, she said.
Children are most vulnerable to monsoon diseases as is evident from the absenteeism in schools. “A few days into the new academic year and children have started taking leave. As I understood, absenteeism is mainly due to the various communicable diseases. It is advisable not to send children to school when they are sick”, says a senior teacher from a city school, who preferred anonymity.
“Children are at risk because in schools, chances of catching infection are very high as children stay in close proximity” says Dr Parivatini, a city based paediatrician. “Fungus infections in the feet are common among children as they sometimes have to wear shoes and socks soaked in rainwater. So avoid getting drenched in the rain, not wear wet clothes for long and avoid outdoors”, she added. “If viral fever crosses 5-6 days, one should definitely go for advanced medical tests to diagnose malaria, dengue or other diseases,” she cautioned.
“We are getting more admissions of children with vomiting, mainly due to eating out. When children develop diarrhoea or vomiting, don’t force them to eat but give them more fluids like milk, juice, water etc to keep their body hydrated. Also giving ORS mix is also very good”, says Dr V. Murugan, Paedratric Nuerologist, Global Hospital.
“Meanwhile, disease prevention and sanitation measures like chlorination of water sources, fogging and destroying mosquito larvae are being taken by concerned government bodies. A public health personnel suggested that a campaign on source-reduction activities be launched in areas from where increased vector density has been reported. The intensive vector control and elimination strategy will focus on source reduction; weekly dry day observance in offices, schools and homes on specific days; chlorination of drinking water sources; and raising awareness of the importance of ensuring that all water storage containers are kept tightly lidded so that mosquito breeding does not happen inside homes. Special attention will have to be given to plantation areas where vector breeding happens in stagnant water pools in natural receptacles like tree trunks and in coconut shells affixed on rubber trees for collecting the latex,” he responded.
