The early and generous onset of rains this season might have given a much-needed respite from the heat, but it has also brought about a spike in monsoon-related illnesses.

Sudden temperature variations can play mischief with the body balance causing your immunity to dip. Coupled with moisture and humidity in the atmosphere and water-logging, it is conducive for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to flourish. As a result, viral fevers, sore throat and other respiratory tract infections, jaundice, typhoid, hepatitis A, leptospirosis, gastrointestinal problems, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, a slew of fungal and bacterial skin infections and a general fall in immunity – health problems related to monsoons get plenty.

All age groups are affected during this season, but the brunt usually falls on the very young and the very old – the two age groups having a lower-than-standard level of immunity.

The most common are water-borne diseases like gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, and jaundice, and mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. Viral and bacterial infections, especially of the respiratory tract, and other ailments due to the sudden drop in temperature also find quite a few takers when it pours.

Allergic manifestations, mainly due to the proliferation of insects – mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, mites, spiders, cockroaches, and lice are common. Also, the moist and humid monsoon climate fosters the growth of many fungi and moulds, all of which can give rise to allergic manifestations in the skin, nose, eyes, stomach and air passages.

Common cold, cough and viral fever

One of the biggest reasons for absenteeism in the monsoons — the common cold — is common due to viruses that thrive in humid conditions. Staying in wet clothes for long periods and prolonged exposure to moist/humid air from air coolers or ACs increase your chances of catching a cold.

• Keep a spare pair of clothes in your office drawer.
• Turn down the ACs and open the windows.
• Common cold spreads quickly through contact. Wash your hands often and avoid close contact with people affected by the virus as much as possible.

Typhoid

Prolonged fever lasting more than five days, headache, diarrhoea and abdominal pain followed by a rash in the second week might indicate typhoid, which spreads via contaminated food and water due to poor sanitation.

• Avoid eating outside food as much as possible.
• Typhoid vaccines are available. You need to complete your vaccination at least 1-2 weeks before your travel to an endemic area for it to take effect. It stays effective for the next two years.

Hepatitis A

A mild to moderate viral liver disorder, hepatitis A, is transmitted mainly by ingesting contaminated food or water. In a country like ours, sewage contamination during monsoon is quite common, hence a spurt in the infection. One suffers from fever, body aches, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Dark-colored urine and jaundice (a yellowish tinge in the eyes, skin, and nails) may also be an incidence.

• Stick to having thoroughly cooked, homemade food.
• Drink only pre-boiled water or bottled water with unbroken seals.
• Vaccination is available for all children aged 12 months or older, travellers, and people at high risk of infection with the virus.

Cholera

This deadly bacterial disease is caused by consuming contaminated food/water or poor hygienic conditions. Common symptoms are severe diarrhoea with rice-water-like stools and vomiting. If severe, it can lead to sudden and severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance causing muscle cramps. The condition can cause death within hours and thus requires immediate treatment. When symptoms start:

• The goal is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes using a simple rehydration salt solution (ORS) available in sachets. Dissolve one sachet in a glass of boiled or bottled water.
• A hot water bottle/warm compress on the abdomen might help ease stomach cramps.
• Antibiotics are not a necessary part of cholera treatment. Oral vaccinations are available.

Leptospirosis

It is a bacterial disease caused by walking in dirty water contaminated by the urine of animals (rats, cats, dogs, horses, etc.). One stands a higher chance of infection if they have broken skin. Symptoms include high fever, chills, severe headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Since the bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys and central nervous system, the disease can progress to jaundice, kidney failure, haemorrhage and shock if not treated in time.

• Avoid stepping into dirty water as much as possible.
• Take a bath as soon as you reach home.
• If you have broken skin due to some injury, cover it well.

Malaria

Caused by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito, which breeds in dirty water in waterlogged areas — malaria is the most common vector-borne disease in monsoons. The mosquito usually bites at night. Symptoms include sudden fever, shivers, muscle pain, sweating, and weakness. Diagnosis is via an antigen detection test in the peripheral blood sample. If untreated, it can lead to jaundice, severe anaemia or even liver and kidney failure.

• Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes — ensure your neighbourhood is kept as clean as possible.

• If you need to store water at home in buckets, ensure that you cover it. Use mosquito screens, nets, fibreglass meshes or magnetic insect-repellent screens for your windows and apply a mosquito repellent.

Chikungunya fever

Caused by a virus and transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that bites during the day, this fever can cause severe (occasionally persistent) joint pains and rash. Specific antiviral drugs or vaccines aren’t available yet. Hence early diagnosis is essential. Chikungunya fever is treated symptomatically. Click here to read more.

Dengue

Another viral disease transmitted by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito, break-bone fever is another name for it.  One experiences a sudden onset of high fever with chills, headache (esp. behind the eyes), severe pain in muscles and joints and a typical skin rash similar to measles. Other symptoms can be vomiting, acute pain in the abdomen, constipation, weakness, puffy face, red eyes, bleeding gums or nose, flushed palms and soles, etc. In severe cases, it causes a drop in the platelet count and sudden bleeding. The patient can go into shock or even die. Click here to read more.

Skin problems during monsoon

Skin needs extra pampering in monsoons as wind, rain and the temperature drop can strain your skin. Dandruff is very common in the monsoon due to the humidity and overgrowing of Malassezia furfur fungus. Fungal infections like ringworm occur commonly in areas like the armpits, groin and between toes. Staying in wet clothes for long can aggravate breakouts, acne and bacterial infections.

Who says Homoeopathy is slow?

Your homoeopathic physician is fully equipped to take care of the monsoon maladies and ensure that these seasonal ailments do not play a spoilsport. All kinds of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections can be easily taken care of with homoeopathy. In fact, viral infections starting from a common cold to swine flu, dengue and chikungunya; which have no specific treatment and do not respond to antibiotics, are treated most quickly and effectively.

Also, medicines are available that act as genus epidemicus, i.e. when given as a prophylactic before contracting the illness, they build up your immunity and help to prevent the disease.

Dietary precautions

Watch your diet during this weather to keep diseases at bay. Here are a few dietary changes that will help:

1. Avoid eating junk and street food as it’s prone to contamination. Stick to fresh, home-cooked food to avoid stomach allergies.

2. Switch to warm beverages – adding mint or ginger to your milk or tea is a great and easy way to boost immunity.

3. Eat the immunity boosters garlic, yoghurt, curd, and almonds.

4. Do not consume fried or oily food. It can cause acidity. Go for steamed, grilled or tandoori instead. Using a lot of spices and salt while cooking can cause water retention and bloating.

5. Avoid consuming seafood like fish, prawns, crabs, etc. It’s breeding season for them. You may end up having stomach infections. Stick to chicken and mutton to satiate your craving for non-vegetarian foods.

6. Vitamin C, recognized for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helps build immunity. Increase intake of fruits rich in vitamin C like oranges, grapes, tangerines, green leafy vegetables, bell peppers, papaya, and guava.

7. Wash your veggies and fruits thoroughly in running water. Also, avoid eating cut fruits and vegetables since they carry a higher chance of bacterial growth and infection.

8. Avoid sour foods like tamarind (imli), chutneys, and pickles since they promote water retention. Eat a lot of asafetida, turmeric, coriander, and cumin, all of which enhance digestion. Honey helps keep the intestines sterile and assists in digestion.

9. Foods rich in probiotics (yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) can enhance your immune function by providing beneficial bacteria for your gut and helping stimulate your immune system.

10. Eat foods dry in nature like corn, chickpea, besan (gram flour) and oats. Fungus and bacteria can grow pretty fast in water-rich wet foods like watermelon, melon, papaya, limes, lemons, etc.

Dos and Don’ts

• Avoid water stagnation near your house to ensure it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Keep your surroundings as dry and clean as possible. Spray a strong insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away.

• Avoid walking through contaminated dirty water as it can cause fungal infection in the feet and nails.

• Keep your feet dry to avoid catching a cold.

• Wearing full-sleeved clothes will expose less skin, leaving lesser scope for insect bites.

• Drink a lot of water, but make sure it’s boiled and filtered.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water before you eat or prepare food, feed your children, or after using the toilets.

• Use separate hand towels to avoid the transmission of disease-causing bacteria.

• A sudden change in body temperature can make you fall sick. It is always better to take a hot shower once back home if you get wet in the rain to help stabilize the cold temperature. It will also help you wash off all the germs you might have picked up.

• Sleep adequate to relax body and mind.

We are at the start of the monsoons. Whatever the illness, a tad bit of caution and prophylaxis can help us deal with these monsoon niggles effectively and keep us rejoicing and frolicking through the season.

Do ask for an Immunity Booster from your homoeopathic physician to beef up your health this monsoon.