What are the common rainy season diseases?
- Flu
- Dengue
- Leptospirosis
The chilly and moist environment during the rainy season is the perfect condition for viruses and bacteria to proliferate! That’s why if you’re not taking your
immune-boosting supplements regularly, have multiple sleepless nights, unhealthy eating habits, and chronic stress, you might be more prone to infection. If you want to keep your family healthy, here are the rainy season diseases you should be wary of. Keep on reading to learn more!
Flu
Are people around you
sneezing and coughing more than usual? In the Philippines, the flu season occurs between June and November—which is also coincidentally the rainy months! An influenza virus might attack your respiratory tract and is extremely contagious.
You can spread the flu even before symptoms appear, which means that people around you need to have a strong immune system, otherwise they’ll get sick. Here are some of the common symptoms to expect when you have the flu:
- Sneezing
- Runny or clogged nose
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Fever or chills
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Headaches
The flu is often confused with the common cold because of similar symptoms. But unlike a cold, flu signs appear abruptly. Fever, body aches, and chills are also uncommon in people who have a cold.
If you have the flu, you can treat your fever and body aches with over-the-counter medications. Remember to wash your hands and cover your mouth when sneezing to prevent the spread of the virus. You can expect to recover after a week of rest, as long as you drink enough fluids and eat healthy foods. But after that, you might feel tired and sluggish for a few days.
Dengue
During the rainy season, rainwater can start collecting in containers, such as bowls, buckets, flowerpots, gutters, and the like. Mosquitos that carry the dengue virus tend to breed in stagnant water, which makes the months of June to February the Dengue season.
Some people mistake Dengue for other rainy season diseases such as the flu because of similar symptoms.
- High fever (40°C)
- Muscle, joint, and bone pain
- Pain behind the eyes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
Mild dengue typically resolves by itself in a week but if symptoms worsen, your blood vessels might become damaged, your platelet count might drop, and more. Here are some of the severe dengue warning signs you need to look out for.
- Continuous vomiting
- Severe stomach pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Blood in stool, urine, and vomit
If you
experience these warning signs, seek medical help immediately. To prevent dengue, use a mosquito repellent and get rid of stagnant water around your home.
Leptospirosis
Flooding is one of the problems to be expected when it comes to the rainy season in the Philippines. Due to the strong tropical cyclones, rainwater is likely to fill the streets for hours and days, which
increases the risk of leptospirosis. This bacterial infection can be transmitted by animals to people when your unhealed cuts come into contact with water contaminated by animal urine. Bats, dogs, horses, buffaloes, pigs, mice, and rats, might carry the bacteria causing Leptospirosis.
That’s why you should think twice before you decide to walk through a flooded area without any protection. Here are the symptoms to look out for if you recently exposed your wounds, eyes, nose, mouth to contaminated water:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Coughing
- Rashes
- Jaundice
- Muscle pain in the lower back
Remember that the bacteria that causes Leptospirosis can incubate for up to 30 days, while symptoms might appear between 5 and 14 days. In most cases, you will recover from this illness in a week.
But in some people, more signs and symptoms will develop, indicating that you have severe leptospirosis. It could affect the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. If you experience irregularities in breathing, nosebleeds, swelling of the hands and feet, seizures, inability to speak, and start to cough up blood, you need to consult medical professionals.
Leptospirosis can be prevented by avoiding contact with bodies of water after flooding. Make sure to practice good hand hygiene after touching animals. If you have wounds, clean them properly and make use of waterproof dressings. Sewage, farm, and pet shop workers need to be extra careful because they are the ones at most risk for infection.
Key Takeaway
Rainy season diseases such as the flu, dengue, and leptospirosis might seem simple, but these can develop into severe health conditions. Aside from the prevention tips stated above, don’t forget to always bring your rain gear with you, shower after getting drenched in the rain, and maintain good hygiene. Other than that, remember to take your immune-boosting supplements to help your body fight infections!
Our Immunity Pack consists of affordable supplements available for every Filipino. With Vitamin C With Bioflavonoids And Rosehips, Zinc Gluconate, and Vitamin D3, you can strengthen your body’s defenses with high-quality supplements manufactured in the USA. This helps you decrease the risk of rainy season diseases without breaking the bank!
