Taking precautions against rainy day diseases
SINCE the rainy season began this May, have you been experiencing incessant sneezing, recurring colds and increasing body temperature? Have you had recent bouts with nausea, headaches and vomiting? If you did, chances are you’ve caught one of the common rainy day diseases.
The Department of Health (DOH) aptly calls these rainy day diseases as WILD (waterborne diseases, influenza, leptospirosis and dengue) diseases. Monsoon rains create the ideal environment for their development and spread. Learn how these diseases can develop, spread and infect you and how you can prevent contracting such diseases.
WATERBORNE DISEASES
Diseases like amoebiasis, botulism, cholera, dysentery, Escherichia coli infection and typhoid fever are some of the common forms of waterborne diseases. They infect individuals who have consumed water or food contaminated with bacteria. Monsoon rains can hasten the spread of contaminated water to underground aquifers, artesian wells and broken water pipes, leading to human consumption.
Among the common symptoms of these waterborne diseases are nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration and diarrhea. If not immediately treated, waterborne diseases can be fatal, especially to children and people with weak immune systems.
INFLUENZA
The virus that causes influenza can be classified into three types: A, B and C. An infected individuals can shows symptoms such as high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing and lethargy. The disease can spread to airborne means such as being exposed to an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. You can also get infected through touching of contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth or eyes. The disease commonly affects children and the
elderly because of their weaker immune systems.
LEPTOSPIROSIS
The bacteria Leptospira causes the infection leptospirosis. While both wild and domesticated animals can transmit it, rodents commonly spread the disease by contaminating water with their urine or feces. Humans can come into contact with the bacteria through exposure of the mouth, eyes, nose and open wounds to contaminated water. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, muscle pains and fever, and in severe cases, can cause jaundice, kidney failure and bleeding of the lungs. Among the common victims of the disease are farmers and poor urban dwellers.
DENGUE
Another common rainy day disease is dengue fever. Caused by the deadly dengue virus, the disease is transmitted by Aedes
aegypti mosquitos that thrive in stagnant water. High fever, rashes, headaches and joint pains are among the symptoms of the disease. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
PRECAUTIONS
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to rainy day diseases.
Since most of these diseases can develop and spread through contaminated water, one can prevent contacting the disease by using only clean and safe water in bathing, cleaning, drinking and cooking. If you think your household water source is contaminated, report it immediately to your water service provider so it can fix potential leaks in the water system where contamination might have happened. For households that get their water from underground aquifers and artesian wells, it is best to disinfect the water first through boiling and the use of alum before drinking.
Proper hygiene can help prevent the spread of these diseases. Regular hand washing with soap after using the toilet, before and after preparing food, and after contact with unclean and contaminated surfaces can help deactivate the diseasecausing bacteria.
Be wary about the kind of soap you are using as well, because some soaps have ingredients such as triclosan and triclocarban that can help bacteria and other microbes develop resistance against vaccines and other types of medication. A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control has shown that use of triclosan has led to a higher risk of antibiotic resistance in strains such as E. coli and Staphylococcus
aureus, both of which cause food poisoning. According to a 2007 study by the University of Michigan School of Public Health, plain soaps are just as effective as soaps with triclosan or triclocarban in removing bacteria.
Finally, a clean environment can stop the development of disease-causing bacteria. Make it a habit to clean areas around your house where stagnant water or moisture might develop, as these are typical breeding grounds for bacteria. If you have pets at home, ensure that their waste products are immediately cleaned and disposed to avoid contact with your water sources. Household garbage should be disposed properly and collected regularly by sanitation services. Both toilet and kitchen should be regularly cleaned and disinfected to prevent the family’s exposure to rainy day diseases. It is also wise to get regular vaccinations against diseases such as flu for every household member to build their immunity.
Armed with ample knowledge and through vigilance and right habits, one can last through rainy days free from deadly diseases.