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Hyderabad: Conditions ripe for spurt in seasonal ailments

Extensive rains, stagnant water create ideal breeding grounds for vector, water-borne diseases

By M. Sai Gopal

Updated On - 25 July 2021, 11:45 PM

Hyderabad: Conditions ripe for spurt in seasonal ailments — The GHMC has been carrying out fumigation to prevent spurt in diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.

Hyderabad: Extensive rains across Hyderabad and surrounding areas for the last one week has created ideal conditions for a spurt in seasonal ailments. No proper exposure to sunlight and incessant showers are known to exacerbate existing chronic medical conditions like asthma and trigger vector and water-borne ailments.

Stagnant rainwater in colonies and low-lying areas present perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed that cause vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Intense monsoons also lead to water-borne ailments, especially in slum settlements where most families do not have access to treated drinking water.

Monsoon also aggravates asthma, as it reduces exposure to sunlight, which is essential for body to produce Vitamin D. There are numerous studies that link lack of Vitamin D exposure during monsoons to aggravation of asthma.

During the rainy season, it becomes easy for chronic asthma patients to get exposed to allergens, such as mould spores/fungus, furry pet, and dust mites. The allergens rise because of increased humidity during monsoons. The cloudy weather conditions mean less sunlight leading to very little sun drying of bed sheets, giving rise to dust mite load.

“The government health care machinery is already struggling with Covid pandemic and a sudden surge in seasonal ailments has the potential to add more pressure on the system. Individuals and families must be careful during the rainy season, as it causes viral fevers, malaria, and dengue. The viral fever symptoms are very close to Covid and it’s always better to get a rapid test done at the nearest government healthcare facility in case of symptoms,” advises Superintendent, Fever Hospital, Dr K Shankar.

In response to the possible spurt in cases of malaria, viral fevers and dengue, the Public Health department in collaboration with District Health and Medical Officers (DM&HO), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats are planning to roll-out fever camps and depending on the caseload, will conduct special fever OPs.

Doctors also advocate administering flu shots to elders in the family. “Individuals must ensure they don’t get wet in rain, wash hands frequently and get a flu vaccine, especially elderly members of the family, which will reduce frequent flu and cold,” says Dr J Anish Anand, internal medicine specialist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills.

Dr Vishwanath Gella, Pulmonologist, AIG hospitals, said that there was a relationship between rise in asthma and monsoons. “Asthma attacks are frequent during the rainy season due to rise in humidity and decrease in the dry season. This correlation raises the possibility of a causal relationship with spread of house dust mites and viral infection,” he says.