Common Diseases in the Rainy Season and Preventive Measures

Dr. Htun Win Lin, a general practitioner at CBL Chemo Centre, reviews diseases common in the rainy season and how to prevent them beforehand to stay alert.

Health experts say both adults and children may encounter various diseases in rainy season as the prospects are high due to vector-borne infections and unhygienic conditions by the damp environment in the rainy season.

Early diagnosis and treatments are necessary to avoid further complications to see as if it is also good to understand the preventive measures. Consequently, it’s vital to maintain good hygiene, develop a good immune system, and seek medical help in case of any unusual symptoms. These followings are the common diseases which mostly found in all ages during the rainy season.

Common cold

A highly contagious, viral infection that occurs mostly in throughout your upper respiratory tract. Many viruses may cause a cold, however, the degree of severity varies. People with colds are likely to have a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, throat irritation, soreness, and fever. Common colds can be prevented by simply wearing face masks when you go outside, and maintaining a high immune system by eating and sleeping regularly.

Influenza, also known as the Flu

Similar to the Common Cold, Influenza is also a viral infection but not nearly as contagious as the Cold. However, the Flu can cause major problems for you and your body. Symptoms include fever or feeling feverish/chills, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue with the extreme being hospitalization due to pneumonia and bacterial infections. Prevention is simply avoiding large crowds, and wearing face masks, the obvious being eating right and sleeping tight.

Dengue Fever

Also regarded as one of the most common diseases during the rainy season, Dengue Fever, primarily contracted from mosquito bites. Dengue can vary from mild to severe. Patients who develop the more serious forms of Dengue fever are usually hospitalized fortunately, the disease only spreads via mosquitoes, so if you avoid areas with large puddles of stagnant water and apply insect repellent spray, you’d be fine.

Acute Gastroenteritis

Generally caused by contaminated water or food and spread around by flies, Acute Gastroenteritis an infection of the digestive tract causes inflammation of both the stomach and the intestines. The disease causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever, stomach pain and muscle cramps. This is a disease we urge you not to get, however, if you have the misfortune to receive the disease from a naughty little fly, seek medical help urgently. Avoid eating over-ripen fruits, uncovered food at food stalls and drinking plenty of boiled or purified water will prevent the recurrence of disease and undesirable complications.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an extremely contagious viral liver infection, it is regarded as one of the most common diseases in developing countries like Myanmar, where hygiene is significantly lacking in most rural areas. It is no surprise as it is a waterborne disease, generally caused by contaminated water or excrement from someone with the disease. Symptoms include stomach-ache and loss of appetite, nausea, fever, diarrhea and fatigue, but most importantly the distinct yellow color that appears in the eyes and skin of the victim. In most Hepatitis A cases, the liver heals within six months with no lasting damage. Drinking clean water is also important because it prevents waterborne diseases

Whereas the best cure may be prevention but if you were unlucky enough to get any of these diseases with the exception of viral infections such as the cold or the flu, it would require regular rest and normal intake of anti-biotics if things get messy. Worry not, for the chance of catching serious illness is very limited—except the Common Cold. In general, use mosquito nets, boil your water, eat fresh, store your groceries properly to prevent cross-contamination, wear a face mask, and carry some hand sanitizers. Health tips aside, we at Myanmore wish you a disease-free monsoon. ENJOY THE RAIN, responsibly.