Waterborne Diseases: How to Keep Your Family Safe during the Monsoon Season
Use these important tips to protect your family from waterborne diseases this monsoon season, from water purification to hygiene practices.
With the monsoons, which chase the heat waves away, comes a boom of water-borne diseases that become a hazard to human health. These include cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A, which prevail under conditions of water contamination and are spread easily. In these months, safe drinking water and proper sanitation saves lives.
This blog discusses the causes of common waterborne diseases and measures for their prevention, underlining important steps families can take. Understanding the types and how they are transmitted will help put in place preventive measures that are very effective in arresting the transmission, hence promising a safe and healthy monsoon season.
Common Waterborne Diseases During Monsoon
The risk of waterborne diseases increases with the advent of the monsoon, as the water source becomes frequently contaminated. Understanding the symptoms and causes of certain common ailments is crucial for their prevention and timely treatment.
- Cholera is an infectious disease characterized by severe diarrhoea and dehydration. It is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera and mainly spreads through drinking water contaminated with the faeces of infected people.
- Typhoid Fever includes prolonged fever, fatigue, and stomach pains. The causative agent is the Salmonella typhi bacteria. Infection occurs through the intake of contaminated drinking water or food handled by infected persons.
- Dysentery is a stomach and intestine disorder characterized by bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Several pathogens can propagate dysentery. However, the most common modes of transmission are water or food contaminated with human faeces containing bacteria or parasites.
- Hepatitis A causes jaundice, abdominal discomfort, and flu-like symptoms. It is an infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with an infected person's faeces.
All these diseases share one transmission mode: consuming contaminated water or food. During the monsoon, remnants of sewage and floodwaters can easily spill into the water supply, raising the risk of these diseases. Therefore, it is important that drinking water is clean and food is prepared and consumed safely.
Ensuring Clean Drinking Water
Making sure that drinking water is free from impurities is a priority during the monsoon season, preventing waterborne disease dissemination. Following are some effective methods and practices:
- Boiling water is usually simple, effective, and kills almost all pathogens. Water purifiers with filters that remove bacteria and viruses are effective but can be boiled to add another layer of safety. Chlorine tablets are another reliable option for portable and easy disinfection, especially in emergencies.
- Safe Storage of Water: Purified water should be stored in clean, closed containers to prevent recontamination. Hands or other foreign objects should not be dipped into the water, as they may introduce new contaminants.
- Avoid Contaminated Sources: Do not use water from contaminated sources. Floods or heavy rains may lead to waterlogging and mixing with harmful water.
- Regular Maintenance: The house water storage tanks, filters, and plumbing systems regularly need check-ups and maintenance so that they do not become sources of contamination. This includes periodic tank cleaning and filter changing to maintain the efficiency of a water purifier.
Good Sanitation Practice
Sanitation practices can be well maintained by incorporating the following key practices into daily routine, especially during the monsoon:
- Personal Hygiene: Frequent hand washing with soap before eating, handling food, and after visiting the toilet is a vital practice. This simple habit is one of the most effective methods of preventing the transmission of disease-causing organisms.
- Food Safety Practices: Foodborne diseases can be prevented if all foods are well-cooked and consumed hot. Avoid raw or undercooked foods because they may contain dangerous microorganisms. All fruits and vegetables should be washed with clean water before consumption. It is also recommended that they be peeled to minimize the disease risk.
- Waste Disposal: Properly dispose of wastes and sewage, which are factors contributing to the contamination of water sources. Ensure that sewage systems are well maintained and household waste is disposed of in a sanitary manner. This helps prevent the proliferation of pathogens in the environment.
- Keeping away from stagnant water: Eradicate all stagnant water in and around your house. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, vectors of fatal diseases like dengue and malaria. More importantly, it may be contaminated with opportunistic pathogens.
Conclusion
Monsoon increases the probability of diseases related to waterborne ailments, wherein sanitation of clean water and proper sanitation becomes of prime importance to safeguard your family from falling ill. To avoid illnesses, it is required to have enough means of water purification, store water safely, and not take water from contaminated sources.
Proper personal hygiene, food safety, and waste disposal can prevent contagious diseases. We highly recommend following the following practical precautions. Together, they will shield your family from the health risks of the rainy season and make this season a less stressful time of the year.
If you are experiencing symptoms of these common waterborne illnesses, it's best to consult an expert for medical advice and treatment. This is where Bharosa.life comes in; you can find verified reviews by patients that will help you choose the medical professional who is best suited for your needs. Check out the platform and avail yourself of the medical resources you need today!