During the rainy season there are several common diseases to watch out for to prevent getting sick during this time.

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

Heavy rains may cause the transmission of water-borne diseases, or diseases transmitted through water contaminated with human or animal waste.

Generally, the public is advised to maintain proper hygiene.

 Food must be properly cooked, water should be boiled, while waste should be disposed ofproperly.

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. People are also discouraged from swimming in water puddles.

Listed below are the 5 common diseases during the rainy season, their signs and symptoms, treatment, and how to avoid them:

Dengue

What is it?

An acute infectious disease caused by a bite of the mosquito (aedes aegypti) that 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
• Weakness
• Skin rashes – red tiny spots on the skin
• Nose-bleeding when fever starts to subside
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Dark-colored stools

Treatment:

• 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 advised to drink lots of fluid to manage the disease.

How to 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.
• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

Cholera

What is it?

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

Signs and symptoms:

• Sudden onset of frequent painless watery stools
• Vomiting
• Rapid dehydration like sunken eyeballs, wrinkled and dry skin

Treatment:

• Replace lost body fluid by giving Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) 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

How to prevent it?

• Drink only safe and clean water. If unsure, boil drinking water.
• Do water chlorination.
• Wash and cook food properly.
• Use toilet properly and clean toilet every day for sanitary disposal of waste.
• 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

What is it?

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

Signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Flu, weakness, muscle and joint pain, loss of appetite, dizziness with or without vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Jaundice may follow after a few days

Treatment

• 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 treatment.

How to prevent it?

• Wash hands after using the toilet, before preparing food, and before eating
• Dispose human waste properly.
• 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

What is it?

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

Signs and symptoms:

• Sustained high fever
• Headache
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea or constipation and abdominal discomfort

Treatment:

• Take antibiotics duly prescribed by your doctor.
• Treatment varies depending on the symptoms of the patient.
• Get the vaccine to avoid getting the disease.

How to prevent it?

• Boil water for drinking.
• 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.

Flu

What is it?

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.

Signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose, sore throat, cough, or other respiratory manifestations
• Muscle or joint pains

Treatment:

• Use of antiviral agents within the first two days may halt the course of flu.
• 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

How to prevent it?

• 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.