Rainy season diseases/Prevention/Lifestyle modifications

 Rainy season disease ☔

1.Mosquito born diseases
2.Cholera
3.Typhoid
4.Viral fever
5.Diarrhoea
6.Common cold and flu
7.Food poisoning

1.Mosquito born diseases:

Malaria: Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors."

Dengue: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in all regions of WHO in recent years. Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus. 

Chikungunya: 

• Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It is caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV).
• A CHIKV infection causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, joint swelling, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

Yellow fever: 

• Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

• Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

PREVENTION:

Reduce your risk of mosquito bites while working outdoors and not underway: 
• As much as possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. 
o In warm weather, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. 
• Use insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing. 
o For exposed skin and clothing, use repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol. 
o For clothing and gear, use permethrin as directed. Do not apply directly on skin. o Follow the label instructions for all products used. 
• Bring extra repellent with you when leaving the ship. If you develop symptoms of a mosquito-borne disease (fever, rash, or muscle/joint pain): 
• Report promptly to your supervisor and seek medical attention. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant: 
• Talk to your supervisor about outdoor work assignments. 
• Discuss all travel plans with your doctor. Because infected men can pass Zika to their partners during sex, if your partner is pregnant or may become pregnant, and you will be in an area with Zika: 
• Talk to your supervisor about outdoor work assignments. 
• Use a condom to reduce the risk of infecting your partner during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. 

2.Cholera:

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is an extremely serious disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration.

PREVENTION:

• Drink and use safe water

• Wash your hands with soaps

• Do not stool near water/river

• Cook food well, try to eat it hot

3.Typhoid:

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water.

PREVENTION:

• Ensure food is properly cooked and still hot when served.

• Avoid raw milk and products made from raw milk. Drink only pasteurized or boiled milk.

• Avoid ice unless it is made from safe water.

• When the safety of drinking water is questionable, boil it or if this is not possible, disinfect it with a reliable, slow-release disinfectant agent (usually available at pharmacies).

• Wash hands thoroughly and frequently using soap, in particular after contact with pets or farm animals, or after having been to the toilet.

• Wash fruits and vegetables carefully, particularly if they are eaten raw. If possible, vegetables and fruits should be peeled.

4.Viral fever:

A viral fever is any fever that’s caused by an underlying viral illness.

PREVENTION:

• Take Paracetamol to reduce a fever and its symptoms
• sitting in a lukewarm bath to bring your body temperature down

5.Diarrhoea:

Diarrhoea 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). Frequent passing of formed stools is not diarrhoea, nor is the passing of loose, "pasty" stools by breastfed babies.

 Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene.

PREVENTION:

• access to safe drinking-water;
• use of improved sanitation;
• hand washing with soap;
• exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life;
• good personal and food hygiene;
• health education about how infections spread; and
• rotavirus vaccination.

6.Common cold and flu:

Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are more intense.

PREVENTION:

• Take everyday preventive actions that are always recommended to reduce the spread of flu.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu.

7.Food poisoning:

Food poisoning symptoms can be anywhere from mild to very serious. Your symptoms may be different depending on the germ you swallowed. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

• Upset stomach
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever

PREVENTION:

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Rest as much as possible.

Eat when you feel up to it – sticking to small, light and non-fatty meals at first (bland foods such as toast, crackers, rice and bananas are good choices)

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fizzy drinks and spicy and fatty foods because they may make you feel worse

            NOTE:

1. Wash your hands with soap before and after eating

2.Eat healthy food, avoid street foods during rainy season.

3.Try to eat hot food.

4. Avoid water to store in open/closed areas.

5. Use mosquito nets 

6. Boil the drinking water

7.Clean your rooms regularly especially before sleeping.

  

                prevention is better than cure.