Good-bye summer, hello rainy season! While parents and kids rejoice the departure of the dreadful summer heat, the changing of the seasons usher in scattered storms, flooded streets and higher chances of catching the flu, dengue and other rain-related illnesses. It is important that parents take note of these illnesses so that parents may take the necessary steps to prevent their children from getting sick.
Rainy diseases 1: Dengue
According to the World Health Organizati0n (WHO), dengue is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes. Symptoms range from mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. If your child shows any of these signs, it is imperative to take him to see a doctor right away.
According to the Department of Health, parents can protect their little ones from dengue by undertaking these preventive measures:
- cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
- replace water in flower vases once a week.
- clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
- clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
- puncture or cut old tires used as roof support to avoid accumulation of water.
- collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.
Rainy diseases 2: Cold and Flu
During the rainy season, the change of weather is often drastic, switching from hot to cold, hot to cold several times within a day. In children, a cold during said season often leads to a fever which increases the chances of a child catching a cold. In order to nip the problem in the bud, parents should take note of the following tips,
- infants are more susceptible to sickness when in an environment with erratic weather, it'd be best to let your infant stay indoors until the weather stabilizes.
- adults handling the baby must practice proper hygiene and wash their hands before and after picking up the child. With guests, it'd be handy to keep a hand sanitizer on you.
- for older children and adults, take Vitamin C daily. It is recommended that for children who can swallow, that they take their Vitamin C tablet after breakfast. For those who can't, best that they get their daily dose via syrup.
- take a trip to your pediatrician and make sure that everyone is updated with their shots.
Rainy diseases 3: Cholera
According to Business Mirror PH, chloera is a diarrheal disease caused by a bacterium called vibrio cholerae. Vibrio cholerae is often found in water areas polluted by human wastes and places that have poor sanitation and poor water treatment. People may get this disease by drinking contaminated and unsafe water and eating food infected by the cholera bacterium.
People who have it may experience vomiting and other signs leading to dehydration. Some of the symptoms are wrinkled skin, low blood pressure, dry mouth, and rapid heart rate, however, there are cases that this disease does not imply symptoms, but could be severe at times.
- Make sure that the water you drink is distilled or has been boiled and cooled as tap water may get polluted by the acidic rain and waste water.
- You may also make use of distilled or boiled water for washing dishes, especially for anything that has to go into your child's mouth. This will cut down the spread of germs and diseases, as everyone and everything are more prone to becoming carriers during wet seasons.
- If you are breastfeeding, continue to do so as breast milk will help strengthen your baby's immune system by providing antibodies that will make him strong and healthy.
Rainy diseases 4: Leptospirosis
A disease that can come about from contact with flood water is Leptospirosis. The virus enters the body through a bodily wound, the eyes or mucous membranes. Rats are often the culprit behind the transmission of this disease. Symptoms include muscle pains, chills, headache, high fever, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, hemorrhage in the skin and mucous membranes, diarrhea, and rashes. If not immediately addressed, Leptospirosis may prove to be fatal.
One way to keep this at bay is by practicing proper hygiene and cleanliness. Despite your efforts, there may be instances when you come home dripping wet with rain or flood water, take a warm shower right away. By doing so, you protect yourself from a possible onslaught of infections. Children must bathe twice a day, and have their nails clipped so that when they bite them, nothing dirty enters the mouth.
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!