Rainy Day Diseases

Rainy Day Diseases
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
published MOD July 2010

SEE nimbus clouds darkening what used to be the bright summer sky? Hear the rain falling hard on your roof? See your streets being swamped by rainy water? Well, with the return of the rain season comes a storm of infections.

According to Dr. Dennis J. Garcia of the Makati Medical Center, flu, dengue, and leptospirosis, among others, are diseases that have a high occurrence during the rainy season. These diseases can strike children and adults alike and could even be deadly all because of the unclean flood.

MOD COLLECTION

What To Look Out For

Influenza

Symptoms: Fever for one to three days, headache, runny nose, cough, achy muscles and bones, weakness

Recommended treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests that the patient take enough rest, as well as medicines like paracetamol for fever and pain, decongestants, and phlegm-liquifiers

How it can be prevented: “Avoid public-enclosed areas at height of flu season, keep sick kids away from each other, get vaccine treatment, especially now that we have one that is against AH1N1,” he says.

Lower respiratory tract infection (like Pneumonia and Bronchitis)

Symptoms: Follows a bad cold or flu after three to five days, continued fever after three to four days, from start of cold or cough rapid uncomfortable breathing, much decreased appetite because of child’s effort to breathe, deepening of skin in between the ribs with each breath, flaring of the nostrils

Treatment: If you display those symptoms above, Dr. Garcia recommends rest and that you take paracetamol or antibiotics if you are not sick enough to be admitted into a hospital. He also recommends chest and back physiotherapy or chest clapping so as to help you expectorate phlegm.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises on avoiding public-enclosed areas at the height of flu season and getting vaccine treatment.

Dengue

Symptoms: Three to seven days of fever, flushed or reddening skin, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, positive tourniquet test

Treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests confinement in hospital for bleeding (nose, mouth, intestine or stomach, urine, brain). In the hospital, IV fluid is given to maintain a good blood pressure. Plasma and other blood products should be given if the clotting test and platelet count become abnormal.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises the use of mosquito repellants and mosquito nets. He discourages storing water in uncovered pots or bins as mosquitoes may lay their eggs there. Avoid outdoor play when you know that there are dengue cases in your neighborhood.

Leptospirosis

Symptoms: Fever, calf pain, congenital redness, jaundiced or yellow skin, stiffness, dark urine

Treatment: Penicillin is the drug of choice

Prevention: Dr. Garcia highly suggests not walking in flooded streets especially if you have a bruise with exposed skin.

Typhoid fever

Symptoms: Prolonged fever for more than five days, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, nauseas, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Treatment: If ever you feel any of these warning signs, Dr. Garcia recommends prescribed medicine from your physician.

Prevention: According to Dr. Garcia typhoid fever can be acquired through bacteria called salmonella. Other common sources are dirty water, poorly cooked chicken, and ambulant street vendors.