Common Monsoon-related Infections: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Introduction:

Monsoon season brings a sigh of relief from the scorching sun heat and prickly summer season. Rains elevate the beauty of the earth, making everything look greener and fresher. Also, they help to replenish the water levels and help the farmers for agricultural purposes. But the monsoon season also brings along a lot of infectious diseases with it. Rains usually serve as a fertile breeding ground for many pathogenic organisms. If these diseases are not treated in time, they may become severe. The rainy season is also sometimes known as the flu season. It is also important to identify the correct symptoms of these infectious diseases to initiate the right treatment at an early stage. So, this article will deal with a few common monsoon-related infections, their symptoms, and ways to treat them.

How Are Common Monsoon-related Infections Transmitted?

Common monsoon-related infections are mainly transmitted through four mediums, including:

• Mosquitoes.

• Contaminated water.

• Air-borne pathogens.

• Contaminated food.

What Are the Symptoms and Treatment Options for Common Monsoon-related Infections?

1. Common Cold and Flu:

During the monsoon season, seasonal colds and cough is a very common infectious disease.

Symptoms:

• Runny nose.

• Persistent cough.

• Low-grade fever.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Body pain.

• Headache.

• Chest congestion.

• Chills.

• Tiredness.

Treatment:

Treatment often requires taking proper bed rest and maintaining hydration in the body. Plenty of fluids should be taken to keep up the energy to fight against viral infections. Plain Paracetamol may be given to cure the symptoms of fever. But usually, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) should be avoided. Prevention can be done by getting vaccinated annually.

2. Malaria:

It is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. It is very common in places where the water stagnates, making it a fertile ground for mosquitoes to breed. These mosquitoes then become infection carriers. Malaria is caused by the parasite plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. It accounts for approximately more than five lakh deaths worldwide. The infection is preventable and treatable. The infection peaks during the monsoon season, making the children most susceptible to this infection.

Symptoms:

• It takes a minimum of ten to 15 days for the clinical symptoms to manifest after the bite of the infected female mosquito species. The clinical features include:

• High-grade fever with chills.

• Severe body ache.

• Fatigue.

• Excessive sweating when the temperature goes down.

• Severe headache.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Stomach upset.

• Muscle pain.

• Joint pain.

• Weakness.

• Loss of appetite.

• Pain in the abdomen.

• The feeling of discomfort.

• Chest pain.

Treatment:

Malaria can be cured. The doctors usually prescribe antimalarial drugs to treat the infection. Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with Doxycycline is usually given by the healthcare professional. Artemisinin combination therapy is generally identified as the best treatment drug. Proper rest and frequent intake of fluids is also advised by the doctor.

3. Dengue Fever:

It is a very common mosquito-borne viral infectious disease prevalent in the monsoon season. It is transmitted by the bite of female mosquito species Aedes.

Symptoms:

• The dengue virus usually produces flu-like symptoms. However, if left untreated, it may develop dengue hemorrhagic fever. It is a potentially lethal infection.

• The incubation period usually lasts between four to ten days.

• Clinical symptoms usually last for three to eight days.

• The symptoms include:

• High-grade fever with chills.

• Severe body ache.

• Frequent headaches.

• Pain in the eyes.

• Muscle pain.

• Joint Pain.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting episodes.

• Weakness.

• Rashes.

• Loss of appetite.

• Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).

• Very low platelet count.

• Hypersensitivity.

Treatment:

It is important to receive immediate care as soon as the infection is detected. The main goal is to increase the platelet count. It is crucial to replenish the fluids inside the patient’s body. Plenty of fluids should be taken by the patient. It is also important to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes inside the houses. People should apply a mosquito repellent cream to avoid biting mosquitoes. Proper rest and maintaining the hydration levels in the body is very important.

4. Cholera

Cholera is another common monsoon infection that is caused because of the intake of contaminated water and food. Poor hygiene is also a contributing factor in its etiology.

Symptoms:

The most common clinical symptoms:

• Loose motions.

• Severe diarrhea.

• Hypotension (low blood pressure).

• Severe thirst.

• Muscular cramps.

• Pain in the abdomen.

• Irregular heart rate.

• Dry mouth.

• Dry and shrunken skin.

• Very little urination.

• Loss of skin resilience (loss the skin elasticity and inability to return to its normal position when pinched off).

• Cramps in legs.

• Restlessness.

• Mental irritability.

Treatment:

Since cholera is an acute infection causing severe diarrhea, there is a loss of fluids from the body. So, treatment includes rehydration of the patient to replenish the lost fluids and intravenous fluid therapy. Also, cholera is caused due to contaminated food and water. Hence the healthcare professional suggests certain antibiotics to eliminate the infection. It needs prompt treatment as it can become a life-threatening condition.

5. Typhoid

It is also a highly infectious disease that commonly occurs during the monsoon season. It is also caused by contaminated food and water and poor sanitation. The bacteria Salmonella typhi is mainly responsible for causing typhoid fever.

Symptoms:

• High fever that persists for a longer period of time.

• Weakness in the body.

• Abdominal cramps.

• Constipation.

• Severe headaches.

• Vomiting and nausea.

• Sore throat.

• Loss of appetite.

• Pain in the stomach.

• Cough.

• Joint discomfort.

Treatment:

An antibiotic course is given to treat the bacterial infection. Proper rest and maintaining hydration in the body is quintessential. Lots of fluids should be given to the affected person. Also, one should avoid consuming infected water and food. Oral rehydration therapy should also be given to the patient for fluid replenishment.

Conclusion

Monsoon-related infections are quite common and can become life-threatening. So, it is important to develop a guard against these common infections. Avoid drinking contaminated water and eating contaminated food. Maintaining clean surroundings and proper personal hygiene is of utmost importance. Also, once the symptoms appear, the patient should immediately seek professional medical help for the correct diagnosis and treatment.