The monsoon comes as a much-awaited relief from the scorching summer. However the cooling showers bring with them a host of health problems. The collection of water promotes the growth of mosquitoes that in turn cause malaria and dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. Take a look at what you can do to sail through the monsoon, illness free.
Stay dry
Apply a strong insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away and prevent getting bitten.
Where possible, try to avoid walking through dirty water. Besides leptospirosis, it can lead to numerous fungal infections of the feet and nails.
Avoid colds and coughs by keeping your body warm and dry.
Don't enter air conditioned rooms with wet hair and damp clothes.
If you suffer from asthma or diabetes, avoid staying anywhere with damp walls. It promotes the growth of fungus and can be especially harmful.
If your feet get wet in the rain (maybe when you are on your way to work/college) then make sure that you remove your shoes as soon as you reach. Clean your feet thoroughly and dry them with a clean towel. Keep an open pair of slippers, an extra pair of shoes and socks and your towel at work.
Food precautions
If you're fond of street food, the rainy season isn't the time to indulge. Pollution of water and raw vegetables is very common during the monsoon.
Pani-puri, bhel-puri, sandwiches and the other roadside goodies may be your staple diet, but these are foods that you simply must stay away from. Besides, roadside eateries do not follow any standards of hygiene and you are prone to bacterial and water-borne diseases.
Piping hot pakoras and bhajjiyas are perfect for the monsoon but make sure that you eat the ones made at home. Eating out should be at an absolute minimal during the monsoons.
Avoid pre-cut fruits, juices, milkshakes, ice-candy from roadside vendors. You can never be too sure of the kind of water used.
When eating out, choose restaurants that conform to basic standards of quality and hygiene, in order to avoid contracting serious infections such as viral fever, diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, particularly leafy vegetables and cauliflower, which not only contain larvae and worms, but also collect dirt from the streets.
Always refrigerate leftover food immediately.
Drinking water should be boiled and properly filtered.
A little effort on your part coupled with care and caution can really help you enjoy this monsoon to its fullest. Have a healthy and safe monsoon.
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