PAGASA has already declared the start
of the rainy season with the country dealing with the combined effects of
tropical storms and the southwest monsoon. With the sudden change in wind
direction and temperature, the amount of rainfall increases as well as the
viral infections that come with it. Coined as monsoon infections, Dr. May
Montellano, former president of the Pediatrics and Infectious Disease Society
of the Philippines, warns the public of its faster transmission due to the
weather. Often taken lightly, these diseases are more prone to become serious
cases that can lead to hospitalization.
Know about the top three most common
monsoon diseases that can put Filipinos’ health at risk, and the preventive
measures that people can take to avoid hospitalizations.
- Waterborne diseases
Water
borne diseases are usually transmitted by drinking polluted water and consuming
contaminated food. The season’s cold temperature causes bacteria to live and
breed massively in fresh waters, which is food and water source for many. In an
advisory released by the World health Organization (WHO), common
diseases that fall under water-related illnesses are cholera, diarrhea,
Hepatitis A, amoebiasis and typhoid fever. If neglected, these diseases can
cause severe infections in one’s digestive system.
How to prevent it:
With water
being a basic need, it is important to know where it comes from. To avoid
getting these diseases, it is best to boil water before using or drinking.
Ensure to cook raw ingredients well and store food in places where insects
cannot infest it.
- Mosquito-borne diseases
Last June,
the DOH also released a warning against mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue
that are more prevalent during the rainy season. Rains are
ideal for mosquitoes because of puddles and other unnecessarily stored water
that serve as mosquitoes’ breeding grounds. With more rainfalls this season,
mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are most likely to
emerge. Though caused by tiny carriers, the symptoms of these diseases range
from mild to serious including high fever, severe joint pains, malaise,
vomiting and blood and organ infections.
How to prevent it:
Maintain a
mosquito-resistant environment by obstructing any possible nests for
mosquitoes. Ensure that there is no stagnant water that can be a mosquito’s
haven in your surroundings like old shoes or toys, flower pots and car tires.
Use mosquito-repellent lotion and bug-deterring sprays to prevent mosquitoes
from entering your homes.
- Influenza
While the
cold weather is ideal for breeding mosquito and waterborne infections, it is
also conducive in spreading viral infections like flu. With the monsoon even
meddling with weather shift, it can also trigger a wide spread of influenza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that cough and colds are not its only
symptoms as one can also experience fever, severe joint and muscle pains,
malaise and nausea. Severe
manifestation of flu, as added by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, can even lead to hospitalization. It can also cause
respiratory infections like pneumonia and may eventually lead to death.
How to prevent it:
Flu can be
avoided by strengthening one’s immune system. Luckily, the disease is also
vaccine-preventable. While it can also be avoided with the proper hygiene and
stringent ways like the other monsoon diseases, its shifting virus strain can
be very unpredictable. With monsoons doubling the risk of virus transmission,
it is best to avert flu through vaccination.
The
rainy season has only begun, and it is likely to heighten with inevitable
monsoon interference that the country experiences. As diseases surface in its
presence, it is best to know what Filipinos are up against as well as the
preventive measures they can take against them. Visit your physicians and ask
about vaccinations today.
