Monsoon Health Alert 2024: Common Illnesses in Children and Expert Tips to Prevent Them.

Introduction

The monsoon season brings refreshing rain, but it also comes with a higher risk of illnesses, especially for children. Dr. Mahesh Hiranandani, MD, Head of the Department of Pediatrics at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Chandigarh, highlights the common health issues and provides expert tips to keep kids healthy during this season.

Common Monsoon Illnesses in Children

The monsoon season is characterized by an increase in various illnesses among children, leading to frequent visits to the pediatrician. These include:

1. Viral Infections

1. Symptoms: Fever, cold, cough, throat irritation, vomiting, diarrhea.
2. Complications: Pneumonia, dehydration (especially in infants).
3. Prevention: Good hand hygiene, clean food and water, and annual flu vaccination for children over 6 months and under 5 years old.

2. Infective Diarrhea

1. Symptoms: Watery, foul-smelling, and sometimes blood-stained stools; high fever and vomiting.
2. Complications: Dehydration, increased mortality.
3. Prevention: Hand washing, safe food storage, avoiding cut fruits and unhygienic food places, ensuring safe drinking water.

3. Typhoid Fever

1. Symptoms: Fever, abdominal pain, headache, loss of appetite.
2. Complications: Can affect all organ systems, especially in unimmunized children.
3. Prevention: Two doses of the typhoid vaccine.

4. Hepatitis A and E

1. Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice.
2. Transmission: Contaminated drinking water and uncooked food.
3. Prevention: Two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine; no vaccine available for Hepatitis E.

5. Malaria

1. Symptoms: High fever with chills and rigors, usually 10-12 days after a mosquito bite.
2. Complications: Life-threatening effects on the liver, brain, and kidneys.
3. Prevention: Avoid mosquito bites, use mosquito repellents, nets, appropriate clothing, and drain stagnant water.

6. Dengue Fever

1. Symptoms: High fever, body aches, headache, pain behind the eyes, rash, and low platelet count.
2. Complications: Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can cause severe bleeding and requires urgent hospital admission.
3. Prevention: Same measures as malaria; a dengue vaccine is in development.

7. Japanese Encephalitis (JE)

1. Symptoms: Fever, convulsions, coma.
2. Transmission: Culex mosquito bites, particularly in rural areas.
3. Prevention: Two doses of JE vaccine provide life-long immunity.

8. Leptospirosis

1. Symptoms: High fever with chills, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains.
2. Transmission: Walking in water contaminated by urine from infected animals like dogs and rodents.
3. Prevention: Avoid walking in floodwaters, early diagnosis, and treatment with antibiotics.

Skin Infections

1. Causes: High humidity increases bacterial and fungal infections.
2. Prevention: Daily baths and wearing loose cotton clothing.

Snake Bites

1. Risks: Common in areas with dense vegetation during floods.
2. Prevention: Avoid bushy areas, wear appropriate clothes and shoes, and seek immediate medical treatment.

Preventive Measures for Monsoon Illnesses

Food and Water-Borne Diseases

1. Hand Washing: Wash hands regularly with soap and water.
2. Safe Food Storage: Store food properly to prevent contamination.
3. Avoid Unhygienic Food: Stay away from cut fruits and street food.
4. Ensure Safe Water: Drink only safe, potable water.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases

1. Proper Clothing: Wear long sleeves and pants to minimize skin exposure.
2. Use Mosquito Nets and Repellents: Use these to protect against mosquito bites.
3. Prevent Water Logging: Keep surroundings clean and dry to prevent mosquito breeding.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Malaria)

1. Typhoid
2. Hepatitis A
3. Rotavirus
4. Japanese Encephalitis
5. Awaiting Malaria and Dengue Vaccines

Conclusion

By taking these preventive measures and ensuring your children are vaccinated, you can help protect them from common monsoon illnesses. Stay vigilant, maintain good hygiene, and keep your kids healthy this rainy season.

References

• Healthline
• WebMD
• CDC – Pneumonia Prevention
• Interview with Dr. Mahesh Hiranandani, MD, Head – Department of Paediatrics at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chandigarh.