essay about common diseases during the rainy season

10 Most Common Rainy Season Diseases in the Philippines

Posted By: Getmeds   July 23, 2021

During the rainy season, infections and diseases are spread higher due to air humidity and the immune system . Air humidity increases that makes it colder, which can lead to health problems. Many different viruses and bacteria infect individuals in the monsoon season. During monsoons, our immune system is minimized, which results in various rainy season diseases.

Table of Contents

10 common diseases during the rainy season

The monsoon season occurs where rainfall happens more commonly than usual. During this season, the risk of common illness is more general due to weather changes; the transmission of bacteria and viruses may affect the immune system. Here are the 10 common diseases spread during the rainy season are:

• Cough and cold
• Dengue fever
• Typhoid fever
• Leptospirosis
• Water Fleas
• Hepatitis A
• Cough and cold : The most frequent cause of coughs and colds is rhinovirus, spreading through the air.
• Dengue fever : Infections caused by illness to dengue virus disease from Aedes aegy
• pti mosquitoes.
• Influenza : Diseases produced by flu virus plagues.
• Diarrhea : Digestive problems produced by infections or bacteria.
• Typhoid fever : Produced by salmonella typhi bacteria detected through rainwater, drinks, and food polluted by human feces.
• Leptospirosis : Infections produced by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans which is shown in rat urine.
• Water Fleas : Skin allergy produced by fungi that are shown through a pool of rain or flood
• Scabies : A skin infection produced by showing the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei.
• Cholera : Skin disease produced by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is shown through food and drink.
• Hepatitis A : Disease that is performed through food and drink.

These diseases spread during the rainy season can also lead to other severe health difficulties; you can simply consult a doctor once you experience the signs of the disease. If necessary, you can get your medicine online with the prescription of the rainy season disease.

Tips to avoid diseases caused in the rainy season

There is no need to worry about being exposed to various bacteria and viruses in this season if you take enough precautions. The following are the ways how to prevent common illnesses in the rainy season in the Philippines are:

Take vitamins

Use anti-mosquito repellent, get vaccination, eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, wash your hand.

• wear the mask

It is prescribed for you to take vitamin C. In addition, you can eat fruits such as orange or strawberry. By practicing vitamin C supplements can usually boost the immune system. Besides, vitamin C additionally prevents common diseases throughout the season, such as cough and flu. 

Anti-mosquito cream can stop rainy season diseases in the Philippines, including dengue fever. To avoid dengue fever, you can apply anti-mosquito repellent every 6 hours. In addition, you can apply mosquito repellent cream or spray.

Getting a vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases that may be caused during any season, including influenza, hepatitis A, flu vaccine , and typhoid. The vaccine can help you to prevent these diseases. 

Try to choose nutritious food during the monsoon season. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and avoid consuming junk food too frequently. Eating healthy food boosts to increase immunity helps from flu and fever.

The easiest way to prevent these seasonal diseases is by consuming liquids because staying hydrated helps the body avoid the flu. Consuming warm drinks makes the body even more relaxed. Drinking juices or eating fruits that contain water, including watermelon, helps to keep you hydrated.  

Maintaining personal hygiene is one of the easiest ways to prevent common infections during the monsoon season. The easiest way is to wash hands frequently. It can limit common health conditions such as cough, flu, or fever. Wash your hands every time using soap to all parts of your hands, including your nails, between your fingers and the back of your hand.

Use the mask

The most important to prevent common diseases during any season is by using masks while in public places. By using a mask, you can limit the transmission of infection.

Those are some effective tips to limit common diseases during the rainy season. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your family from various diseases during the rainy season.

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Common Rainy Day Illnesses

July 17, 2020 | 4:30 pm

Home / Common Rainy Day Illnesses

Rainy days are here!

Rainy days are always fun to welcome, especially after experiencing a long period of summer. But along with the rains and change in temperature come something we certainly must avoid ushering in. What are those, you say? It’s the troublesome rainy-day illnesses. This season increases the transmission of water-borne diseases and increases the risk of catching diseases associated with cold and wet weather.

As in every season, personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and resistance-building such as getting immunization shots against vaccine-preventable illnesses play vital roles in fighting off diseases.

Common Rainy-Day Illnesses

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of a dengue-carrying mosquito.

Signs and Symptoms:

• High fever that may last for 2 to 7 days
• Joint and muscle pains
• Pain behind eyes
• Skin rashes
• Bleeding (nose, gums, stool, urine or menstruation)
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain

The breeding ground for mosquitos increase during the rainy season because they breed on clear and stagnant water. Make sure to cover all containers that may hold water, clean areas where stagnant water gets stored, and use insect repellants.

Malaria can be transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the Plasmodium parasite.

• Nausea and vomiting

As in preventing dengue, make sure to remove stagnant water from containers such as discarded tires, buckets, and cans that could potentially be breeding grounds for mosquitos. It is also recommended to check gutters to make sure that they are not clogged.

• Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis comes from flood water, vegetation and moist soil contaminated with the urine of an animal, especially rats, infected with Leptospira bacteria.

• Muscle pain
• Reddish eyes
• Yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice)
• Dark-colored urine
• Light-colored stools

Avoid potentially contaminated water, wear protective clothing and footwear, and control rats in the household by using traps, pesticides, and by keeping your house clean.

Cholera is caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria found on food or water contaminated with human waste. It is transmitted when contaminated food or water is consumed.

• Frequent painless watery stools
• Rapid dehydration (sunken eyeballs, wrinkled and dry skin)

Only consume safe food and water, practice safe food and water handling and storing, practice proper hand washing and hand hygiene, and always keep the surroundings clean.

• Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is transmitted through consuming food and water contaminated with human waste and urine of a person with Hepatitis A.

• Muscle and joint aches
• Abdominal discomfort

Practice proper handwashing and hand hygiene, safe food and water handling and storing, and proper waste disposal.

• Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria which are transmitted through consuming food and water contaminated with human waste.

• Sustained fever
• Abdominal discomfort and constipation

Practice proper handwashing and hand hygiene, safe food and water handling and storing, and proper waste disposal. Only consume safe food and water.

Influenza, commonly known as “flu”, is a contagious viral infection caused by an influenza virus which attacks the respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs). Symptoms usually manifest about 1 to 4 days after exposure to the virus. People who are already infected with the flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness starts.

• Fever (at least 38 degrees Celsius)
• Runny nose, sore throat, cough or other respiratory symptoms
• Muscle and joint pains

The best way to prevent contracting this is to get a flu vaccine every year. Also, it is recommended to practice social distancing, proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene.

What can DLSUMC offer?

Some rainy-day illnesses can be prevented by getting vaccinations. Our Immunization Center offers influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis, and typhoid vaccines.

Other vaccines available:

• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)/Td vaccine
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

For inquiries, you may call the DLSUMC Immunization Center at (046) 481-8000 or (02) 8988-3100 local 1344.

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Disclaimer:

All content found on the DLSUMC website, including text, graphics, images, audio or other formats were created for general informational purposes only and are not intended or implied to be substitutes for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call your local emergency hotline immediately.

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• Influencers

Common Diseases in Rainy Season that You Must be Aware Of

September 28, 2022

In the Philippines, there are only two seasons--wet and dry. In the past months, Filipinos have experienced typhoons and monsoon rains. The wet season has started. During this time, your concerns are not just limited to flooding, there are also common rainy season diseases that you need to be aware of.

The cold weather, heavy rains, and flooding can compromise one’s health. This is the time of the year when you should beware of rainy season diseases and stay protected as much as possible. Here’s a list of the most common diseases that commonly prevail during the wet season.

Most Common Rainy Season Diseases to Watch Out For

Dengue is one of the common diseases in the rainy season that should not be taken lightly. It is common in tropical countries such as the Philippines. Dengue is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. It mostly affects children and when not managed properly, it could lead to mortality.

Prevention:

• Discard bottles, containers, and other unused items that may accumulate water.
• Ensure that gutters are clean and not clogged to prevent the accumulation of rainwater that could be a breeding place for mosquitoes.
• Make it a habit to clean flower vases, drums, and pots at least once a week.

Food and waterborne diseases

Diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid fever are common rainy season diseases that may be acquired through contaminated food and water.

Diarrhea is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasitic organisms.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholera which causes watery diarrhea. When neglected, it can lead to severe dehydration and death. 

Typhoid fever is an infection that may be acquired through contaminated food and water or through close contact with an infected person. 

• Drink water from safe sources.
• If unsure of water quality, boil water for 3 minutes before drinking.
• Ensure that food is well-cooked.
• Use a clean food cover to prevent contamination. 
• Use a hand sanitizer, isopropyl or ethyl alcohol when soap and water are not available to keep hands clean.

Also known as flu, influenza is a viral infection that targets the respiratory system. One may acquire influenza through contact with an infected person, particularly when they sneeze or cough.

• Stay away from crowded places.
• Avoid contact with infected persons.
• Make it a habit to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Keep hands clean and sanitized frequently.
• Get vaccinated against the flu virus.

Leptospirosis

One of the common diseases in the rainy season that is dreaded by many is leptospirosis. It is a bacterial infection caused by the urine or feces of infected animals, particularly rats. Wading through a flood or getting an open wound exposed to contaminated soil, water, and vegetation are some of the most common causes of leptospirosis.

• Do not wade in flood water.
• Disinfect regularly to maintain well-sanitized surroundings.
• If there are rodents in your house, control them or get help from pest control experts.

ALSO READ: Health and Safety Tips for Back-to-School for Students

There are common diseases in the rainy season that emphasize the importance of taking care of one’s health. These diseases threaten one’s well-being but through proper disinfection, hand hygiene, sanitation, and by boosting the immune system, these diseases can be prevented.

Now that rainy days have started, you can up your protection against the most common rainy season diseases. Check out the products that you may need all year long.

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The association between temperature, rainfall and humidity with common climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Bangladesh

Fazle rabbi chowdhury.

1 Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh

2 Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (CTMGH), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

3 Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand

4 Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Quazi Shihab Uddin Ibrahim

5 Department of Medicine, Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Md. Shafiqul Bari

M. m. jahangir alam, susanna j. dunachie, alfonso j. rodriguez-morales.

6 Research Group and Incubator Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia

Md. Ismail Patwary

Associated data.

The minimal anonymized dataset is available via figshare: https://figshare.com/articles/Climate_change_and_Infectious_diseases_in_Sylhet_Bangladesh/6354956 .

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries for climate change. This observational study examined the association of temperature, humidity and rainfall with six common climate-sensitive infectious diseases in adults (malaria, diarrheal disease, enteric fever, encephalitis, pneumonia and bacterial meningitis) in northeastern Bangladesh. Subjects admitted to the adult medicine ward of a tertiary referral hospital in Sylhet, Bangladesh from 2008 to 2012 with a diagnosis of one of the six chosen climate-sensitive infectious diseases were enrolled in the study. Climate-related data were collected from the Bangladesh Meteorological Institute. Disease incidence was then analyzed against mean temperature, humidity and average rainfall for the Sylhet region. Statistical significance was determined using Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test and ANOVA testing. 5033 patients were enrolled (58% male, 42% female, ratio 1.3:1). All six diseases showed highly significant (p = 0.01) rises in incidence between the study years 2008 (540 cases) and 2012 (1330 cases), compared with no significant rise in overall all-cause hospital admissions in the same period (p = 0.19). The highest number of malaria (135), diarrhea (266) and pneumonia (371) cases occurred during the rainy season. On the other hand, the maximum number of enteric fever (408), encephalitis (183) and meningitis (151) cases occurred during autumn, which follows the rainy season. A positive (P = 0.01) correlation was observed between increased temperature and the incidence of malaria, enteric fever and diarrhea, and a negative correlation with encephalitis, meningitis and pneumonia. Higher humidity correlated (P = 0.01) with a higher number of cases of malaria and diarrhea, but inversely correlated with meningitis and encephalitis. Higher incidences of encephalitis and meningitis occurred while there was low rainfall. Incidences of diarrhea, malaria and enteric fever, increased with rainfall, and then gradually decreased. The findings support a relationship between weather patterns and disease incidence, and provide essential baseline data for future large prospective studies.

Introduction

Global warming is not a myth, rather a reality [ 1 , 2 ], and the impact of climate change is multidimensional on health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported an estimated 12.6 million deaths each year due to unhealthy environments, particularly climate change and pollution [ 3 ]. The report also identifies diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections and malaria in the top ten causes of environment related deaths [ 3 ]. Climate change influences the emergence and re-emergence of many infectious diseases [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]. Dengue fever, tick-borne diseases, diarrheal disease, enteric fever, viral encephalitis, respiratory tract infections, and meningitis are much increased in recent times [ 1 – 4 , 6 ]. In addition, emerging and reemerging diseases such as chikungunya and Zika, have also been linked to climate change influences, and have been proposed as partially responsible for autochnous transmission in places not traditionally endemic for such diseases [ 7 , 8 ].

Analysis of global temperature data led the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) to the conclusion that the average global temperature over land and ocean surfaces has risen by 0.85°C in the period from 1880 to 2012 [ 1 ]. They predicted that global surface temperature will increase by 1.5°C compared to the year 1850 by the end of the 21st century (2081–2100) [ 1 ]. Climate change is predicted to directly influence zoonotic infectious disease transmission by changing the geographic range of a vector [ 9 ]. Altered climatic conditions may increase vector biting rate and the reproduction rate of the vector and shorten the pathogen incubation period [ 9 – 12 ]. Climate-related increases in sea surface temperature and sea levels can lead to higher incidence of waterborne infectious diseases [ 9 , 13 , 14 ].

As a low-income country, Bangladesh itself plays very little role in the process of global warming, but becomes one of the most seriously affected victims of climate change. Bangladesh is the biggest delta and contains the second largest river basin in the world [ 15 ]. The majority of the land is low and flat, and only 10% lies over one meter above the mean sea surface [ 15 ]. Because of monsoon weather and the presence of the Bay of Bengal in the south, extreme weather events like flood and cyclone are common [ 15 , 16 ]. This unique geographic and topographic location makes it reportedly the most vulnerable country to climate change effects [ 16 ]. Lack of resilience and adaptive capacity, dense population and poverty make the situation worse [ 16 ]. Unfortunately, very few studies on the relationship between various environmental variables and trends of infectious disease incidence have been performed so far in Bangladesh, although there are reports of some infections increasing sporadically in different regions of the country [ 17 – 19 ]. Climate change and health related studies are so far mainly reported from developed countries, but studies from vulnerable countries are still meagre [ 20 , 21 ]. Furthermore, published studies typically only focus on a single disease.

This study examined six infectious diseases based on clinical syndromes and laboratory support (malaria, enteric fever, encephalitis, diarrheal disease, pneumonia and meningitis) to offer a broader scope on the trend of these infectious diseases and their possible relation to climate change in Bangladesh. We chose these six diseases based on the reports of IPCC (2014) and WHO (2016) where they were listed as climate-sensitive infectious diseases important for Asia [ 1 – 3 ]. The main objective of the study was to see the burden of the six climate sensitive diseases over five years and to analyze the possible relationship of them with common climatic variables. The findings will be of interest to public health experts and policy makers to stimulate effective measures to combat infectious diseases and related epidemics in Bangladesh and in other vulnerable countries.

Materials and methods

This was an observational exploratory study done at Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital (SOMCH), Sylhet, Bangladesh. This is a 1200 bed tertiary referral centre covering the Sylhet divison in Northeast Bangladesh, an area of approximately 12,298 km 2 with a population of around 10 million. All case files of the adult medicine ward from 2008 to 2012 were enrolled from the hospital archive. The diagnosis of the six studied diseases were confirmed based on the combination of clinical and relevant laboratory diagnosis. Incomplete files, patients discharged on risk bonds, patients who died within 24 hours (due to insufficient time to reach a diagnosis) and absconded patients were excluded from the study.

Case definitions

Enteric fever.

High-grade fever for more than 7 days with abdominal symptoms (loose motion/ abdominal pain/ constipation/ vomiting) with or without blood culture positive for Salmonella typhae and paratyphae .

Diarrheal diseases

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual) with signs of dehydration, with or without fever and with or without positive stool microscopy and culture.

Bacterial meningitis

High Fever with or without unconsciousness with signs of meningeal irritation and positive CSF diagnostic of bacterial meningitis (raised white cell count, low glucose with or without culture of an appropriate bacterial pathogen.

Encephalitis

High fever with altered consciousness and positive CSF findings diagnostic of Encephalitis (raised lymphocyte cell count, mild to moderate elevated protein with normal glucose) with or without signs of meningeal irritation.

High fever with cough, positive respiratory signs and consolidation on chest- X ray with or without positive sputum findings.

High fever with chills and rigors with or without unconsciousness with or without blood film positive for malaria species, and response to antimalarial treatment within 48 hours.

Climate data

The mean temperature in degree Celsius, mean humidity in percentage and average rainfall in millimeters of the respective years (2008–2012) were chosen as climatic variables. These data were collected from the Bangladesh Meteorological Office, Agargaon, Dhaka. Only the information of the Sylhet weather station was included in the analysis. The data were available month-wise. Seasons were divided into four equal groups of three months duration; summer (March to May), rainy season (June to August), autumn (September to November) and winter (December to February).

Statistical analysis

The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and the level of significance was expressed as P values unless otherwise stated. Between the years 2008 to 2012, the mean temperature was 25.0°C, average humidity 76.5% and average rainfall was 275mm in Sylhet region. Based on this mean data, the average temperature was subdivided into two groups; <25.0°C and ≥25.0°C, humidity into three groups; <76.5%, 76.5–77.5% and >77.5%, and rainfall into three groups; <275 mm, 275–375 mm and >375 mm for data analysis. The Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, student t test and ANOVA test were applied to obtain the level of significance. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 for Windows, with results displayed using GraphPad Prism 6.

Ethical approval

A statistician anonymized all data before analysis. The institutional ethical review committee of Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College approved this study prior commencement and the requirement for informed consent was waived.

5034 patients were enrolled into the study, with 2910 males (58%) and 2124 females (42%), ratio 1.3: 1. Pneumonia occurred significantly more frequently in males (72% vs. 28%, chi square P<0.001) whereas Encephalitis occurred more frequently in females in females (53% vs. 47%, chi square P<0.001) ( Table 1 ). The highest percentage (27%; 1373) of disease over the five years studied occurred in the 4 th year (2011). There was a trend towards increasing number of cases of the six infectious diseases studied over the five years ( Fig 1A ) and there is a significant difference (P = 0.01) between the total number of cases in 2008 (540) and 2012 (1330). All six infectious diseases individually increased in number over the five years, especially pneumonia which rose from 131 cases in 2008 to 411 cases in 2012. This increase does not appear to be due to increased numbers of patients using the hospital overall. In comparison, the number of admissions for all causes to the hospital and to the medicine department over three of the years of study from 2010 to 2012 (data unavailable for 2008 and 2009) did not change (Mann-Whitney U test p = 0.191, Fig 1B ).

A. Year-wise distribution of cases from the year 2008 to 2012. Significant increase in the total number of cases was seen in 2012 compared to 2008. Mann-Whitney U test was applied for level of significance (p = 0.01). B. All hospital admissions during 2010 to 12. There were no significant differences in terms of total admissions between 2010 and 2012 in the study hospital. P value (0.191) expressed through Mann-Whitney U test.

Disease and different seasons

The highest number of cases occurred in autumn (1436; 29%) followed by rainy season (1423; 28%), winter (1204; 24%) and summer (971; 19%). Pneumonia (1352; 27%) was the most common disease of the six, and malaria (443; 9%) was the least prevalent disease. Individually, the highest number of malaria (135), diarrhea (266) and pneumonia (371) cases occurred in rainy season. On the other hand, the maximum number of enteric fever (408), encephalitis (183) and meningitis (151) cases occurred during autumn ( Fig 2 ).

The highest number of malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia cases occurred in rainy season, whilst the maximum number of enteric fever, encephalitis and meningitis recorded during autumn. Student t test was applied to obtain the level of significance.

Diseases and relationship with average temperature

The mean temperature in our study region during 2008–12 was 25.0°C, and there was no significant difference in the number of cases occurring below or above that level ( Table 2 ). In 2012, the average temperature was more than 25°C in eight out of twelve months ( Fig 3 ). There was a significant positive correlation between increasing temperature and the incidence of malaria (p = 0.0001), and a trend for positive correlation between increasing temperature and the incidence of diarrhea (p = 0.081). There was a significant negative correlation between increasing temperature and incidence of encephalitis (p = 0.001), meningitis (p = 0.001) and pneumonia (p = 0.017).

An increased number of malaria, enteric fever and diarrhea cases was observed with increased temperature. On the other hand, the cases of encephalitis, meningitis and pneumonia were low. Two-way ANOVA test was applied to obtain the level of significance.

Diseases and relationship with average humidity

Table 3 shows the association of the six diseases with the average humidity of the studied period of 2008 to 2012. We analysed the incidence of each disease in each of three groups of humidity recordings by month: less than 76.5%, 76.5–77.5% and more than 77.5% based on the mean humidity of the study site. Less than 76.5 percent humidity was associated with the highest percentage (2458; 49%; p = <0.01) of all the six studied diseases ( Table 3 ). Average humidity of 76.5–77.5% and > 77.5% was associated with 27% (1373) and 24% (1203) disease respectively. However, in 2012, the average humidity was ≥ 76.5% in nine out of twelve months ( Fig 4 ). Higher humidity was correlated with a higher number of cases of malaria (p = 0.0001), enteric fever (p = 0.0001) and diarrhea (p = 0.0001), but inversely correlated with meningitis (p = 0.0001), encephalitis (p = 0.0001) and pneumonia (p = 0.0001).

Higher humidity was correlated with a higher number of cases of malaria, enteric fever and diarrhea, but inversely correlated with meningitis, encephalitis and pneumonia. Two-way ANOVA test was applied to obtain the level of significance.

Diseases and relationship with average rainfall

The average rainfall by month was divided into three groups, less than 275 mm, 275–375 mm and more than 375 mm in Table 4 . The highest percentage (2458; 48.8%) of all the six diseases studied were related with less than 275 mm of average rainfall. 45% (201) malaria, 43% (539) enteric fever, 48% (413) diarrhea, 52% (312) encephalitis, 52% (708) pneumonia and 53% (285) meningitis fell under this category (chi-square p = 0.010). Average rainfall of 275–375 mm and > 375mm was associated with 24% (1203) and 27% (1373) of the total disease burden respectively. Analyzing the data of 2012, in six out of twelve months, there were ≤375 mm average rainfall ( Fig 5 ). Higher incidences of encephalitis (p = 0.001) and meningitis (p = 0.001) happened while there was low rainfall. Incidences of diarrhea (p = 0.002), malaria (p = 0.001), pneumonia (p = 0.002) and enteric fever (p = 0.002) increased with rainfall, and then gradually decreased.

Higher incidences of encephalitis and meningitis occurred while there was low rainfall. Incidences of diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia and enteric fever increased with rainfall. Two-way ANOVA test was applied to obtain the level of significance.

Previous studies in Bangladesh have either focused on a single disease or relied on people’s perception of climate change and infectious disease. To our knowledge, this study is the first observational study which specifically focuses on individual infectious diseases and explores the relationship between each disease and three common weather variables. The male to female ratio in this study was 1.3: 1. Although there are no published data, it is generally believed that more males come into hospital in Bangladesh because traditionally females wait at home with their disease until complications develop [ 22 , 23 ]. It is likely that women get less opportunity to come into hospital and have less access to medical care.

There was no significant difference by gender in the frequency of each individual disease except pneumonia and encephalitis, which significantly affected a greater proportion of the male and female population respectively. The increase in pneumonia cases seen in males may be because men have more occupational exposure to conditions that increase the chance of receiving a diagnosis of pneumonia such as dust, fumes, smoking etc. All six diseases showed a significant (P = 0.01) rise in incidence between the study years 2008 and 2012. The number of cases more than doubled for all diseases except enteric fever, which also showed significant increases. In contrast, during this same period the total number of admissions to the medical ward and to in the hospital showed no significant rise. We propose that the rise in frequency of the studied diseases could be explained by the influence of weather changes. It is important to note that during this period no epidemics of the studied diseases happened in the Sylhet region. The total impression is consistent with previous reports. In a review of the literature, the incidence of pyogenic meningitis, encephalitis and dengue was predicted to be greatly influenced and increased by global warming in the coming years [ 24 ]. W.H.O reported dengue, viral encephalitis, diarrheal disease, enteric fever, pneumonia and meningitis as most sensitive to climate factors, and predicted a huge rise of cases in tropical countries [ 25 ]. Climate Change Cell , Bangladesh reported that, from 1984 to 1993 there were 301,651cases of malaria in Bangladesh, but from 1994 to 2003 it increased to 507,485 (68% increased incidence) [ 26 ]. Although after the introduction of artemisinin treatment and government and other partner organization lead massive drive for malaria elimination, the cases decreased to 1.4/1000 population in Bangladesh [ 27 ]. The same report revealed an increasing trend for diarrheal diseases, Kala-azar and skin diseases in three districts (drought-prone Rajshahi, flood-prone Manikganj and salinity-dense Satkhira) of Bangladesh between 1999 to 2005 [ 26 ]. The report also described a positive correlation between rainfall and diarrheal and skin disease in Rajshahi and Satkhira, and a negative correlation of diarrheal disease with temperature [ 26 ]. Another focus group discussion (FGD) based study reported an increased number of diarrheal diseases, typhoid and skin problems after the cyclone Sidr and Aila in southern part (Barguna and Khulna) of the country [ 28 ].

We found the highest number of malaria (135), diarrhea (266) and pneumonia (371) cases occurred during the rainy season. The findings are consistent with other national and international studies. Highest cases of falciparum malaria were found in north-eastern India during the rainy season [ 29 ]. In the Chittagong hill tract districts of Bangladesh, where malaria is most endemic, the frequency of cases was highest in rainy season [ 30 ]. An increased incidence of malaria in north-west of India has been suggested through computational modelling [ 31 ]. Studies in Africa revealed mixed results, with the highest number of malaria cases during the rainy season in Mali, but most cases during autumn in Northern Ghana [ 32 , 33 ].

According to the IPCC report, respiratory infections also follow a seasonal pattern [ 2 ]. In tropical settings, where most deaths due to pneumonia occur, the incidence of lower respiratory tract illness in children is generally increased during rainy season and it supports our findings [ 34 ]. A Thai study of viral pneumonia reported the highest number of cases in rainy season [ 35 ], in line with our findings. This pattern of increased pneumonia cases during rainy season in tropical countries contrasts with the well described increase in pneumonia seen during colder months in temperate climates [ 36 , 37 ]. For diarrheal disease, our findings are supported by previous reports of increased incidence during the rainy season in Taiwan (24) and Bangladesh (25).

We found a large number of enteric fever cases (759; 61%) occurred in rainy season and autumn. This agrees with earlier studies in both Dhaka, Bangladesh (26) where the highest number (45%) of enteric fever occurred during monsoon period [ 38 ],and a Cambodian study [ 39 ] but no relationship between incidence of enteric fever and season was seen in Kenya [ 40 ]. In our study, most meningitis (293; 55%) and encephalitis (355; 59%) occurred during autumn and winter. This finding is partly consistent with other studies done in Africa. Meningitis epidemics in West Africa occurred during the coolest season [ 41 ]. A recent time series analysis over 66 countries found that bacterial meningitis season peaks during the winter months, [ 42 ], similar to our findings. A major causative organism of meningitis ( Neisseria meningitides ) was found to be high and active during dry periods in the presence of dust and were then washed away with rainfall, so as the case frequency fell down [ 43 , 44 ]. However, in our study, we found an almost equal number of meningitis cases in rainy season compared to other seasons. Regional findings of seasonality in terms of encephalitis are also supportive of our findings. Highest number of encephalitis cases in rainy period (August-September) were seen in Nepal [ 45 ]. In India, the incidence of Japanese encephalitis was also highest during August to November (rainy and early winter) with a peak in October [ 46 ]. Another study from China also reported similar findings [ 47 ].

The current rate of increase of the annual minimum temperature (by 0.1°C) is higher than that of the annual maximum temperature (by 0.09°C) in Bangladesh [ 48 ]. The annual average rainfall is increasing by 10.6 mm per decade outside the usual rainy period, while rainfall during the season is decreasing by 7.6 mm per decade [ 49 , 50 ]. In our study, we found a positive correlation between the incidences of malaria, enteric fever and diarrhea with increasing temperature. These results are similar to other national and international findings. A previous study in Chittagong, Bangladesh showed increased malaria cases with increasing temperature [ 30 ]. Studies have shown a positive relationship between increased malaria and increasing temperature [ 51 , 52 ]. Studies in South Asia and South America (Venezuela and Columbia) have documented the association between malaria outbreaks and the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle [ 53 ]. A significant increase in malaria cases with increasing temperature was seen in Rwanda and Uganda [ 54 , 55 ], but this was not seen in studies done in the African highland region [ 56 , 57 ]. Increased temperature allows faster replication of mosquito populations [ 47 , 58 ]. Higher temperatures also change human behavior, for example more outdoor activities may be undertaken which further increases the risk of exposure [ 47 ]. Diarrheal cases including dysentery have been found to be higher in high temperature in Bangladesh, Taiwan and China [ 59 – 61 ]. A study in Dhaka, Bangladesh showed an increase number of enteric fever cases with an increase temperature which supports our findings [ 38 ], as does a similar study from Southern Australia[ 62 ]. Furthermore, a strong linear association has been noted between temperature and notification of salmonellosis globally [ 53 ]. Temperature affects the transmission of food-borne disease in various ways. The temperature directly affects the rate of replication of bacterial and protozoan pathogens and the survival of enteroviruses in the environment [ 61 , 63 ]. In addition, these variations may also have a significant impact on the environmental reservoirs of infection as well as human behavior [ 63 ]. Moreover, both salmonella and cholera bacteria, for example, proliferate more rapidly at higher temperatures; salmonella in animal gut and food, cholera in water [ 13 , 53 ]. Our study shows an inverse relationship between encephalitis, meningitis and pneumonia with temperature. The pneumonia findings are consistent with a study done in China, but not with another study conducted in Spain [ 36 , 64 ]. For encephalitis and meningitis our findings differ to other studies done in India, China and Niger where they found increased evidence of cases and vector during hot environment [ 47 , 65 , 66 ].Viral encephalitis cases in Sweden have reportedly increased in response to a succession of warmer winters over the past two decades [ 53 ]. This inverse relationship with temperature in our study merits further exploration.

In recent decades, more heatwaves have been reported in South Asia, which also bring a change in humidity [ 67 ]. Eighteen heatwaves were reported in India between 1980 and1998 [ 67 ]. Our study found a higher trend of malaria, enteric fever and diarrhea cases with higher humidity. The findings are further supported by studies done in Chittagong, Bangladesh and China with similar trend [ 30 , 61 ]. Relative humidity influences biological and feeding behavior of mosquitoes [ 47 ]. At higher humidity, mosquitoes generally survive for longer and disperse further [ 47 , 58 ]. Higher humidity also affects the rate of replication of bacterial and protozoan pathogens and their survival in the environment [ 63 ]. We did not find any influence of humidity on enteric fever and pneumonia, in line with other studies [ 34 , 36 ]. The incidence of pneumonia, encephalitis and meningitis is inversely related to humidity in this study. In India an inverse association was seen between the number of Culex mosquitoes (the vector for Japanese encephalitis) and humidity [ 66 ], although in China, higher cases of encephalitis was seen with higher humidity [ 47 ]. These mixed findings may reflect differences in etiology of encephalitis and bacterial meningitis, as well as differences in case definitions between study sites. These could also explained by diagnostic limitations, and in some cases the meningoencephalitis syndrome may be caused by bacteria favoring dry and dusty weather.

Heavy rainfall can have a diverse range of effects on disease. For example, in tropical and subtropical regions with crowding and poverty, heavy rainfall and flooding may trigger behavioral changes such as increased contact between people and distribution of pathogens in floodwater, leading to outbreaks of diarrhea [ 58 ]. We found that the incidence of diarrhea, malaria, enteric fever and pneumonia increased with rainfall. For diarrhea, our findings are consistent with other national and international studies [ 59 – 61 ]. A positive relationship between increased rainfall and the incidence of enteric fever was also found in Dhaka, Bangladesh and southern Australia [ 38 , 62 ]. One possible explanation is, heavy rainfall may affect the frequency and level of contamination of drinking water and hence the spread waterborne infections [ 13 , 68 ]. Area with existing high burdens of infectious disease and poor sanitary infrastructure often experience increased rates of diarrheal diseases after heavy rainfall [ 58 ]. Our findings in terms of malaria are also similar to other national and regional studies [ 30 , 31 ]. Rainfall plays an important role in the transmission of malaria, as mosquitoes need water to support the larval and pupal stages of development [ 31 , 58 ]. A study also found higher deaths from acute lower respiratory tract illness during rainy season in a pediatric population [ 34 ]. In 2011–12, the highest incidences of encephalitis and meningitis occurred while there was very low rainfall. Our findings are supported by other reports in the case of meningitis [ 44 , 65 ]. Nevertheless, researchers found the opposite for Japanese encephalitis, where the vector replicates and transmits more disease with high rainfall [ 45 , 66 ].

We acknowledge a limitation of this study is the relatively short timeframe. Extending our study duration to ten years would have allowed greater power to detect differences, but we did not have the resources to do this. Another limitation is that due to the retrospective design of the study with recruitment from the hospital archive, we relied on the diagnosis in the patient notes, which in some instances may be wrong. We tried to overcome this limitation by setting case definitions for enrollment in the study and included only the cases who survived for more than 24 hours, where there was more clinical information to make an informed diagnosis. The death rate in the first 24 hours due to these infections (Bacterial meningitis-0.92%; encephalitis 2.32% and all-cause mortality 3.62%) during that period was low and unlikely to influence our results [ 69 ]. Due to limitations of funding and time, we conducted this study in only one hospital of northeastern region of Bangladesh. Further studies in other regions of Bangladesh are highly desirable to represent the situation across the country.

This study reported the influence of temperature, humidity and rainfall on six climate sensitive infectious diseases in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. Weather and climate extremes affect all sectors of the health, economy and development. The findings can be used as a baseline to launch a large cohort study throughout the country in future. This study is pivotal in giving direction to our public health experts, clinicians and other policy makers to update and change future strategies to combat the burden of climate-related health events in Bangladesh and other countries.

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of the hospital archive and administration departments of SOMCH for their cooperation. We are also grateful to the nurses and doctors of all the units of medicine department for their support.

Funding Statement

FRC and MSB acknowledge the financial support provided for this study by the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) award ref 2012/21. SJD is grateful for the support of a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship award ref WT100174/Z/12/Z. No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Diseases that come with the rainy season

     The arrival of the rainy season often brings a host of various illnesses due to the changing weather conditions and increased humidity, promoting certain viral and bacterial activities. There are five groups of common diseases during this period that both Thais and foreign tourists entering Thailand should be aware of for preventative purposes. They are:

• Respiratory Diseases: Influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema are among the diseases in this category. The changing weather conditions combined with inhaling airborne viruses from coughs and sneezes can lead to these illnesses. The damp weather during the rainy season further facilitates the spread of these diseases. Even touching objects contaminated with the virus can result in infection. To prevent these illnesses, one should wear a mask if they are sick or in crowded areas, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and most importantly, frequently wash their hands.
• Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Dengue fever, encephalitis, and malaria are examples of diseases spread by mosquitoes, be it the Aedes, Culex, or Anopheles species. They usually breed in water bodies or containers with stagnant water. Common symptoms include fever, chills, and headaches. In severe cases, it may lead to shock, unconsciousness, and even death. The best prevention methods include getting vaccinated, eradicating mosquito breeding grounds, avoiding mosquito bites, using mosquito repellent when venturing into forests during the rainy season, or trying to stay away from areas with many trees.
• Group of Water and Foodborne Diseases such as diarrhea, sudden dysentery, typhoid, food poisoning, hepatitis, etc., are caused by consuming contaminated food and water that are infected with microbes and bacteria. Patients often experience stomach pain, diarrhea, constant defecation, vomiting, and in severe cases, dehydration and loss of consciousness can occur. Therefore, special attention should be given to dietary habits, such as consuming freshly cooked food, using a serving spoon, and washing hands thoroughly before eating.
• Group of Diseases from Wound Infections or Skin Membranes such as leptospirosis, or rat urine disease, and conjunctivitis. These are caused by contact with disease-contaminated water, especially stagnant water, sewage in drainage pipes, and water contaminated with feces from humans and animals such as dogs, cows, buffalo, rats, pigs, horses, and wild animals. After being infected for about 1-2 weeks, patients will suddenly experience high fever, headaches, severe muscle pain, along with symptoms like red eyes, stiff neck, alternating with reduced fever, and there may also be liver and kidney failure. Prevention methods include avoiding swimming or wading in water that may be contaminated with urine from disease-carrying animals. If necessary, wear protective boots at all times.
• Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is common in young children. It is easily communicable, there is no preventative vaccine, and it has a higher chance of occurring during the rainy season. It is caused by a virus. Infected individuals start with a low fever, fatigue for 1-2 days, oral discomfort, refusal to eat, mouth ulcers resembling burn sores, rashes of red spots or clear blisters on the palms, soles, and possibly along the body, arms, and legs. There are no vaccines for prevention yet, so it is advised to separate infected patients from other children and frequently clean the toys and the environment where the children reside daily.

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5 Most Common Rainy Season Diseases

June 17, 2021

Our country is about to enter our monsoon season and with it comes the illnesses usually associated with the rainy weather. With most of our healthcare facilities dedicated to treating COVID-19 cases, it is vital for everyone to avoid hospital trips and getting exposed to the coronavirus. To keep ourselves and our family from any chances of requiring medical attention, we must do our best to prepare for these infectious diseases.

Typhoid fever, typhoid fever is commonly caused by contaminated food and water. the damp surroundings brought by the rains make it the ideal climate for the transmission of salmonella typhi bacteria, especially with the higher likelihood of damaged water and sewage lines and contaminated water sources. this disease can spread throughout the body and affect multiple organs. without immediate treatment, it can cause serious complications and can be fatal., another disease spread through contaminated water, cholera is a bacterial infection characterized by severe diarrhea and dehydration. communities living in areas with poor sanitary conditions are more vulnerable to the disease since the vibrio cholerae bacteria thrive in these environment., leptospirosis, we get leptospirosis from exposure to animal urine, usually from rats. with floods becoming almost inevitable during our rainy months, people who are exposed to floods might be susceptible to the disease, particularly those with open wounds. contracting leptospirosis could cause jaundice, diarrhea, and skin rashes., available here: rapid test kits for infectious diseases, malaria is a vector-borne disease, which means that it is spread through bites from the mosquitos brought by the rains. people suffering from malaria would usually experience fever and flu-like symptoms which includes shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness., dengue is a seasonal disease that affects most filipino communities. mosquitoes that can transmit dengue usually breed in still water such as puddles and water containers. dengue patients can experience the disease in stages, from headache and vomiting to bleeding and severe fever., for facilities hoping to prepare for these infectious diseases, medtek is offering our wide array of rapid testing kits which could provide accurate results within minutes for suspected cases. if interested, please fill out the form below..

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Common Monsoon Diseases: Reasons and Preventive Measures

Monsoons are here and so are waterborne diseases that come as an unwelcome gift with this season! The onset of monsoon brings relief from the scorching heat of summer, but it also makes one susceptible to a host of waterborne diseases.

The most common water-related diseases associated with monsoon are malaria and dengue, and gastrointestinal infections such as gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, and hepatitis (Jaundice). The World Health Organization says that every year more than 3.4 million people die as a result of water-related diseases.

Most of the victims are young children. Common symptoms include high fever, nausea, and vomiting, which can become life-threatening if ignored. Apart from the biological reasons why these diseases flourish in monsoon, there are some other reasons that you should be aware of.

Monsoon Diseases: Reasons Why They Flourish

• Puddles of Rainwater : Rainwater is the perfect breeding ground for germs, which, in turn, leads to waterborne diseases that affect a lot of people. After the first showers, the weather becomes very humid and humidity increases the rate of bacteria multiplication resulting in a sudden spike in infections like conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, fungal infections of skin and hair, cholera and even Hepatitis.
• Water Logging : Accumulated dirt on roads, trees, buildings get washed into drains and seep into the ground. This gets sucked into water pipes when lines are opened, which contaminate the potable water lines which run parallel to the sewage lines.
• Stagnant Unclean Water: Contaminated rainwater also exposes your skin to waters carrying the urine of animals, which can lead to leptospirosis.
• Flies and Mosquitoes : These breeds actively during the monsoon and spread diseases after feeding on the al matter or carrying viruses.
• Weaken Immune System : Sudden changes in temperature and humidity compromises the immune system, which, in turn, becomes more susceptible to disease.

These factors are often beyond our individual control. No matter what steps civic bodies take to provide clean water to its citizens during monsoon, individuals have to play their part and purify their drinking water using the best water purifier for home before consuming it to ward off water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, hepatitis and cholera.

Common Diseases During Rainy Season

Airborne diseases.

• Influenza : This is a contagious airborne disease which spreads through coughs or sneezes. Symptoms of Influenza include fatigue & weakness, aching muscles, sore throat, nasal congestion, persistent cough

  Mosquito-borne Diseases

• Malaria : The most common rainy season disease, symptoms of Malaria include body ache, chills, high fever and sweating.
• Dengue : This common monsoon disease caused by mosquitoes lead to headache, rashes, high fever and low platelet count.
• Chikungunya : This is also caused by mosquito bites, resulting in fatigue, high fever, chills and acute joint pain.

  Waterborne Diseases

• Cholera : Consumption of contaminated food & water can lead to Cholera, and its symptoms include low blood pressure, dry mucous, muscle cramps and rapid heart rate.
• Diarrhoea : Symptoms of diarrhoea include bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps, loose watery stools and/or blood in the stool.
• Typhoid : This too is caused by contaminated food & water, and some of its symptoms are weakness, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain and prolonged high-fever.

Prevention of Waterborne Diseases

It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. If one follows preventive measures, then such potentially life-threatening water-related (waterborne) diseases can be kept at bay. Thus, some of the preventive measures for waterborne diseases include;

• A void wading in rainwater or going out during a heavy downpour. If you must, either wear gumboots and remember to wash the area of contact with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Personal hygiene can be intensified during this period. One thing is to keep skin clean and dry. Washing hands often throughout the day can spell the difference between prevention and disease.
• Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check your living space for any hotspots of contamination eg. air conditioning trays, flower pots, vases, and choked drains. If there’s a pond near your premises, then breed Gambusia fish as they reduce the chances of mosquito breeding. Alternately, call the municipal authorities for fumigation.
• Use effective mosquito repellent while going out and cover windows with mosquito nets.
• Our digestive system becomes weak during this season so one should avoid eating spicy, fried and junk food as these have heated thermal effect on our bodies and make us feel lethargic and sluggish.
• Keep food covered . Flies look harmless but are carriers of serious waterborne diseases such as Typhoid and Cholera.
• Avoid street food which is uncooked or exposed. Drink warm water and strictly avoid untreated water, or water/ice from unknown sources.
• Make that important decision about investing in a home water purifier for the safety of your loved ones; during the monsoon and every day. Consider a water treatment option based on your water quality. UV Water Purifier is excellent and ideal for water treated and supplied by the municipality. When the water is from underground sources such as borewells and is high in TDS making it hard and unpalatable, then consider RO Water Purifier .

What Are the Most Common Monsoon Diseases in India?

As listed above, the most common monsoon diseases in India are cold & flu, influenza, malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, stomach infections, typhoid, jaundice, cholera etc.

How to Stay Safe from Mosquito-borne Diseases This Monsoon?

To keep you and your family safe from mosquito-borne diseases during the monsoon season you can use mosquito nets in the house as well as apply mosquito repelling creams inside the house and before stepping out of the house. Maintaining proper hygiene at home and around the house is also important. Plus, ensure that stagnant rainwater is not collected anywhere in the vicinity of your home.

How to Stay Safe from Waterborne Diseases This Monsoon?

While we have provided you with a list of tips for prevention of waterborne diseases, here are a few more helpful suggestions that can keep you from harm; make sure to always thoroughly wash fruits & vegetables before consumption. Get your children vaccinated and include immunity-boosting foods in your diet. Also, get the civic authorities to close open drains & potholes in your locality.

How to Stay Safe from Airborne Diseases This Monsoon?

Some of the precautionary measures to stay safe from airborne diseases during monsoon are; ensure that your home and office is well-ventilated. Read about UVGI Air Disinfection Systems . Wash your hands and feet thoroughly once you enter your home. While sneezing and coughing, make sure that you always cover your mouth and nose. Avoid touching your nose & mouth without sanitizing and washing your hands. Also, wearing a mask, when you step out of the house, is another most vital necessity today. Plus, drink warm water and keep away from individuals who are already infected.

What are some of the other general health & wellness tips to avoid sickness during the rainy season?

Maintain a strict personal hygiene routine and sanitize often. Keep yourself hydrated and drink purified water for good general health and well-being. To reduce the risk of viral infections, avoid visiting crowded places (maintain social distancing).

Eat fresh homemade food and ensure you have a balanced diet that includes foods which provide essential vitamins & nutrients and help you to improve your immune system. All vegetables and fruits need to be thoroughly washed and boiled (veggies) before eating. By following these tips and safety measures, you and your family can enjoy good health in the long run.

Read more: Monsoon Health Tips: Simple Do’s & Don’ts to Stay Healthy

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DOH's tips to protect yourself against the common rainy season diseases

Here's how you can prevent getting dengue, leptospirosis, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and influenza

All graphics by Raffy de Guzman/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – There are several common diseases to watch out for during the rainy season. The Department of Health (DOH) has issued advisories to help Filipinos prevent getting sick during this time.

The common diseases during the rainy season include dengue, leptospirosis, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and influenza.

“Typhoons and heavy rains may cause flooding which, in turn, can potentially increase the transmission of water-borne diseases, or diseases transmitted through water contaminated with human or animal waste,” said DOH in an  advisory .

Generally, the public is advised maintain proper hygiene. The DOH said the public must drink clean water only.

“When in doubt, it is a must to wait for two minutes or longer when the water reaches a rolling boil, or chlorinate drinking water to make it safe,” said the DOH.

Food must be properly cooked, while waste should be disposed of properly. The DOH said Filipinos must wash their hands properly before and after eating as well as after using the toilet.

“When sick, consult a doctor or go to the nearest health facility at once if you, or any household member, have any sign or symptom of infection,” said the DOH.

The public is also discouraged from wading or swimming in flood waters.

Listed below are the 6 common diseases during the rainy season, their signs and symptoms, treatment, and how to avoid them:

  What is it?

An acute infectious disease caused by a bite of the aedes aegypti day-biting mosquito, which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water

Signs and symptoms:

• Sudden onset of high fever which may last two to 7 days
• Joint and muscle pain
• Pain behind the eyes
• Skin rashes – maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae
• Nose-bleeding when fever starts to subside
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting of coffee-colored matter
• Dark-colored stools
• There is no known cure to dengue. The treatment depends on what symptoms the patient is manifesting. Once you notice signs of dengue, immediately go to your doctor. Dengue patients are advise to drink lots of fluid to manage the disease.
• Healthy individuals aged 9 to 45 may take the dengue vaccine to avoid the disease.

How do I prevent it?

• Cover water drums or pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
• Replace water in flower vases once a week.
• Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
• Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
• Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.
• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

Leptospirosis

 What is it?

A disease caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, and most soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals, especially rats. Has an incubation period of 7 to 10 days.

• Non-specific symptoms of muscle pain, headache
• Calf-muscle pain and reddish eyes for some cases
• For severe cases, liver involvement, kidney failure or brain involvement indicated by yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stools, low urine output, severe headache
• Take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.
• Consult your doctor early because early recognition and treatment of leptospirosis will prevent complications from the disease.
• Avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water.
• Use proper protection like boots and gloves when work requires exposure to contaminated water.
• Drain potentially contaminated water when possible.
• Control rats in the household by using rat traps or rat poison. Keep your house clean.

What is it?

A disease caused by the vibrio cholerae bacteria, transmitted by eating food or consuming water contaminated with human waste

• Sudden onset of frequent painless watery stools
• Rapid dehydration like sunken eyeballs, wrinkled and dry skin
• Replace lost body fluid by giving Oral Rehydration Solution (ORESOL) or a homemade solution composed of one teaspoon of salt, 4 teaspoons of sugar mixed with one liter of water.
• If diarrhea persists, go to the hospital
• Drink only safe and clean water. If unsure, boil drinking water. Upon reaching boiling point, extend boiling for two or more minutes.
• Do water chlorination.
• Keep food away from insects and rats.
• Wash and cook food properly.
• Sanitary disposal of human waste
• Use toilet properly and clean toilet every day.
• Wash hands with soap after using the toilet and before eating.
• Keep surroundings clean to prevent flies and other insects and rodents from breeding.

Hepatitis A

A disease caused by eating food contaminated with human waste and the urine of persons who ares sick with hepatitis A

• Flu-like symptoms like weakness, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, dizziness with or without vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Jaundice may follow after a few days
• No specific medicine to cure the patient or shorten the course of illness. Infected patients must be isolated, advised to rest, take plenty of fluids,and avoid fatty foods.
• Patients who fail to take fluids or are too weak to eat are sometimes admitted to the hospital for intravaneous administration of fluids and vitamins.
• Wash hands after using the toilet, before preparing food, and before eating
• Dispose human waste properly.
• Thoroughly cook oysters, clams, other shellfish for 4 minutes or steam them for one minute and 30 seconds.
• Practice safe handling and storage of food and water.
• The disease is self-limiting and may last for one to 2 weeks. Patient often recovers even without treatment.

Typhoid fever

A disease caused by the salmonella typhi bacteria, transmitted by consuming food and water contaminated with human waste

• Sustained high fever
• Malaise or weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea or constipation and abdominal discomfort
• Take antibiotics duly prescribed by your dog.
• Treatment varies depending on the symptoms of the patient.
• Get the vaccine to avoid getting the disease.
• Boil water for drinking. Upon reaching boiling point, extend boiling for two or more minutes.
• Do water chlorination
• Cook food well and always use food cover to prevent flies and other insects from contaminating them.
• Wash thoroughly all vegetables and fruits especially those that are eaten raw.
• Avoid eating foods sold by street vendors.
• Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating.
• Keep surroundings clean to prevent breeding of flies.

A disease caused by the entry of the influenza A, B, or C virus into the respiratory tract, has an incubation period of one to 3 days.

• Fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius
• Runny nose, sore throat, cough, or other respiratory manifestations
• Muscle or joint pains
• Use of antiviral agents within the first two days may halt the course of influenza illness. Consult your physician regarding antiviral agents.
• Paracetamol for fever. Do not give aspirin to children.
• Antibiotics to be given only due to complications of influenza such as pneumonia or otitis media.
• Adequate rest
• Increase intake of oral fluids and eat nutritious foods
• Influenza vaccination preferably to be given anytime from February to June.
• Provide separate room to a person sick with influenza.
• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing to prevent spread of the virus.
• Avoid crowded places. Distance yourself from at least meter from people who are coughing or are sick with influenza.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water.

Source:–  Rappler.com -  https://www.rappler.com/nation/183043-doh-tips-common-rainy-season-diseases-prevention  

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Common health concerns during the rainy season and how to avoid them.

Home > Health News > Common Health Concerns During the Rainy Season and How to Avoid Them

It’s the rainy season once again and it’s the time of the year when infections come to a rise. Infections can either be viral or ordinary and there are 5 diseases during this season that we should watch out for and avoid.

Common Colds and Flu

The extreme temperature swings that occur during the rainy season make the body vulnerable to bacterial and viral infection, resulting in colds and flu. The most prevalent type of viral infection is this one. As a result, in order to protect the body, one should eat meals that are abundant in nutrients and improve one’s immunity . By creating antibodies against the released poisons, the body can combat pathogens.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a severe and potentially fatal disease. Although the dengue virus causes the sickness, the mosquito is the carrier, so keeping the body covered from any type of mosquito bite can ensure safety.

The simplest and most fundamental method in preventing dengue fever is to clean your house. Stagnant water is the ideal breeding site for mosquitos. As a result, don’t forget to clean any pots or containers where water may collect.

Hepatitis A

Contaminated food and water induce this infection, which primarily affects the liver. Fever, vomiting, rash, and other Hepatitis A symptoms are prevalent. This disorder can be avoided by practicing good hygiene.

Despite the fact that many people, particularly youngsters, have no symptoms, they can still spread the infection. Furthermore, up to two weeks before symptoms develop, a person can transmit the hepatitis A virus to others.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through animals. It is spread via urine, particularly by dogs, rodents, and agricultural animals. Leptospirosis is usually unpleasant but not life-threatening, similar to the flu. It usually only lasts a week.

Because leptospirosis can enter the body through other openings, it’s also a good idea to avoid freshwater activities like swimming, waterskiing, sailing, or fishing. Saltwater is generally considered to be safe.

Diarrhea can cause rapid fluid loss, putting you at risk of dehydration. If you don’t get treatment for diarrhea, it might lead to serious complications.

Washing the kitchen and food preparation areas more frequently will help you avoid getting diarrhea from food poisoning.

Getting Prepared for the Rainy Season

The Department of Health (DOH) has recommended that the public start preparing now for the beginning of illnesses linked to the next rainy season in June.

Although there is considerable controversy about it, practice shows that vitamin C can help prevent and treat colds. You should take vitamins all year, but this is the time to be very diligent.

Colds and the flu are easier to deal with if you stay hydrated. Water, of course, aids in the removal of germs and bacteria from the body.

Freshly cooked fish balls, squid balls, kwek-kwek , and kikiam are especially appealing during the rainy season, but it’s time to bid them farewell for the time being. Anything cooked outside in the open air is likely to be contaminated with airborne and waterborne illnesses.

Don’t miss any of our informative health articles — subscribe to our newsletter now! Follow Top Medical Magazine on  Facebook ,  Instagram , and  LinkedIn  to stay updated, too!

References:

• 5 Ways To Avoid Getting Sick During The Rainy Months
• Common Monsoon Diseases Prevention Tips
• PREPARE FOR THE RAINY SEASON – DOH
• Causes of Diarrhea and Tips for Prevention
• What Is Leptospirosis?

Related posts:

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DOH: Prepare for common rainy season diseases

MANILA, Philippines — This early, the public should prepare for the onset of illnesses that are common during the rainy season, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Common diseases during the rainy season, according to DOH, include diarrhea, water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.

“It is best to arm ourselves with weapons against these diseases even before the onset of the rainy season by building a strong resistance against these illnesses and practicing personal hygiene and environmental sanitation,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque said in a statement.

Common diseases

The DOH said diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of loose or liquid bowel movements usually caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms, while typhoid fever is an infectious disease commonly spread through contaminated food and water or through close contact with someone who is infected.

Cholera meanwhile is an acute intestinal infection caused by food or water contaminated with the bacteria known as Vibrio cholera, DOH said, adding that the same bacteria could cause watery diarrhea that can lead to severe dehydration and death.

“Diarrhea, typhoid fever, and cholera are all food- and water-borne diseases. These can be prevented by drinking water only from safe sources. Or if unsure, to boil water for 3 minutes or do water chlorination. Cook food well and always have it covered to prevent contamination from flies and other insects. Always wash hands before preparing or handling food and after using the toilet,” the Health Department advised.

On the other hand, leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by many animals, such as rodents and other vermin. The DOH said it is advisable to avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated flood waters and maintain cleanliness in the house to ensure control of rodents or rats.

Meanwhile, the DOH said dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever– acute viral infections that are caused by the bite of the dengue-carrying mosquito— could be avoided by practicing the 4-S technique. The 4-S technique stands for: search and destroy, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak or hotspot.

Malaria, a serious and sometimes fatal disease is caused by a parasite that commonly infects certain type of mosquito, can be prevented by using long lasting insecticidal mosquito nets, especially during nighttime, and by following the advice of health workers on how to take anti-malaria drugs, the DOH added.  ( Editor : Mike U. Frialde )

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Common Diseases/Illnesses during rainy season amid COVID-19

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DOH warns public of common diseases during rainy season

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, June 26, warned the public of the 4 common diseases during the rainy season: influenza, leptospirosis, waterborne infections, and dengue.

“These are the usual diseases that we [have] to watch out for during rainy season,” DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said in a press conference. (READ:  7 ways to stay healthy this rainy season )

Compared to 2013 data, dengue cases were reported to be 50% lower as of May. The department hopes to maintain the low numbers in the months ahead.

Dengue, a disease common in tropical and sub-tropical countries in the world, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) . Dengue fever is potentially fatal and mainly affects children. (READ:  Crowdsourcing dengue alert )

“We don’t have any reason to be complacent now. It doesn’t mean we have 50% less cases, we will already relax. We cannot do that. If we don’t do something, we may be caught off-guard with a sudden rise in dengue cases,” Lee Suy said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Here are 6 ways to prevent dengue, according to DOH :

• Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.  
• Replace water in flower vases once a week.
• Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
• Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
• Puncture or cut old tires used as roof support to avoid accumulation of water. 
• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles, and other items that can collect and hold water. 

Leptospirosis, flu

The rainy season also means the possibility of flooding in many areas. In some places in Metro Manila, for example, even a few hours of heavy rain can trigger floods that take a while to subside.

Lee Suy warned about leptospirosis in these areas. (READ:  Metro Manila worst hit by leptospirosis )

“Let us make sure the drainage system [in our area] is not clogged so that once it rains, flood waters will not be at a standstill. We should not reach the point where flood waters take long to subside, thus causing the rise in leptospirosis cases,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Leptospirosis  is a bacterial infection commonly acquired through rodent bites, direct contact with infected animals, or cuts and open wounds exposed to a contaminated environment such as flood water.

Lee Suy also gave a few pointers on how to combat the common cold or influenza, a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system: 

• Be protected – take a flu vaccine. 
• Strengthen your immune system. Eat nutritious food and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you already have the flu, a good resistance level can prevent it from worsening.
• Observe proper and frequent hand washing. It can protect you from flu, and prevent you from spreading the virus. 
• If you already have the flu, avoid crowded places.

The common cold is often transmitted when someone coughs or sneezes, or through contact with surfaces, materials, and clothing contaminated with discharges of an infected person.  – Rappler.com

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