Why are mostly infectious diseases caused in monsoon?
By the end of summer, you await the monsoons that are a spell of relief from the scorching Indian summers. But, the monsoons are a higher-risk season for most of the country as they bring with them monsoon diseases. Diseases are suddenly on the rise during the monsoons, and the reason for this is the high moisture present in air that helps microbes, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., thrive and spread, causing disease transmission. However, with basic preventive hygiene measures, these monsoon diseases can be prevented. Higher-risk groups like kids and elders must be particularly careful during this season. You need to practise basic preventive hygiene measures to live healthy and prevent monsoon diseases.
What Are the Most Common Monsoon Diseases in India?
Monsoon diseases caused by microbes are primarily transmitted through 4 major mediums: mosquitoes, water, air, and contaminated food. Let’s understand more about them in detail:
Mosquito-borne diseases
As the name goes, these diseases are caused by mosquitoes. In all the mosquito-borne diseases the mosquito acts as a vector to transmit the microbe from an infected person to a healthy person, thereby infecting them as well. The most common mosquito-borne diseases that occur in India are:
- Dengue
The vector for this disease is the Aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in water that is stagnant and can be found anywhere, indoors as well as outdoors. The incubation period for dengue is 4-7 days after the mosquito has bitten someone. Dengue causes symptoms like fever and fatigue. Dengue causes a drastic drop in platelet counts and in severe cases, might require hospitalisation too. - Malaria
This is the most common monsoon disease. It is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium and spread by the female Anopheles mosquito. Unlike the Aedes aegypti, the female Anopheles can breed even in moving streams and channels. The most common symptoms that malaria causes is high fever with chills. Other symptoms that malaria causes are similar to flu and these symptoms can last for many days. - Chikungunya
Caused by the Aedes albopictus mosquito that breeds in stagnant water. Dengue causes fever and fatigue. Chikungunya, on the other hand, causes joint pain, similar to arthritis, apart from the similar symptoms to dengue causes. Arthritis-like pain is the characteristic feature of chikungunya.
Precautions Tips to Stay Safe From Diseases Caused by Mosquitos
The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is by:
- Preventing water stagnation in and around your house
- Using mosquito nets
- Use mosquito repellents
Also Read: What Is Jaundice and Symptoms
Water-borne Diseases
Another group of diseases that wreak havoc during monsoons in India are the water-borne diseases. According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), more than 3.4 million people are affected by water-borne diseases in India. The most common water-borne diseases include:
- Typhoid
Caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, typhoid occurs and spreads due to poor sanitation and improper hygiene. Contaminated food and water are the culprits of this disease. Typhoid causes fever, chills, joint pain, headache. Also, typhoid causes sore throat and gastrointestinal symptoms in most patients. - Jaundice
A very common disease transmitted by water, jaundice causes a characteristic yellowish tinge in the skin, sclera of the eye, and yellow urine. Apart from this, jaundice causes generalised fatigue, vomiting, and significantly affects the liver. It occurs due to improper sanitation and hygiene practises. - Cholera
Cholera causes loose motions (diarrhoea) and vomiting, and occurs due to poor sanitation and hygiene. Another symptom that cholera causes is dehydration and hence patients are advised to be constantly hydrated. - Gastrointestinal infections
Most water-borne diseases result in gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach ache, vomiting, loose motions, etc. , gastrointestinal infections causes include consuming stale, uncovered, and/ or contaminated food and water. - Leptospirosis
Caused due to contact with mucky or contaminated water, leptospirosis causes muscle pain, shivers, fever, and headache. Exposure of a cut or wound to dirty water is said to be one of the main leptospirosis causes.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
