Here comes the most awaited season of all, the mighty monsoon! Whether you are a kid or a grownup, everyone loves the drizzling rain. But the arrival of monsoon also brings along humidity, mosquitoes, seasonal diseases which makes us and especially children more susceptible to illness. Viral infections (dengue, flu), joint and muscle pain, cholera, diarrhea, etc. are some common problems that we face during this season. Being a mother you must always be prepared to prevent your children from getting infections.
Here are some useful steps of precautions to follow and keep you, your children and family healthy during the monsoon:
1) Maintain proper hygiene
Viral infections are one of the most common problems during monsoon season which can be prevented by maintaining proper hygiene. Teach your children to follow a proper hygiene routine like washing hands properly every time before-after eating anything, after coming from outside, after sneezing, coughing, petting, gardening, using the washroom, etc. Many disease-causing germs make their way from the dirty hands to the mouth and then to the stomach which is a major cause of illnesses. Washing hands regularly and taking hot bath can keep you from getting colds, cough & influenza and prevents the spread of viruses and bacteria.
2) Maintain a healthy diet
During the rainy season, your body is prone to various infections. Eating healthy food is the best way to protect you from many diseases. Avoid eating street food, raw foods, drink boiled water and follow a healthy diet to stay healthy and to keep stomach infections at rest. Eat vitamin C-rich foods that boost your immune system and help prevent flu and infection. The healthier you eat, the more nutrients your body will be getting and the more capable it will be of fighting any illnesses. Also as viral fever is very common and highly contagious, avoid sharing food and drinks with anyone who’s already suffering from an infection or have a cold or cough.
3) Drink clean filtered water
Most of the diseases in the rainy season are waterborne and thus drinking filtered or boiled water is essential. Drinking contaminated water results in diseases like cholera, diarrhea and to prevent them it is important for everyone, especially children who are more prone to get infected, to incorporate healthy habits of drinking clean, filtered and germ-free water. Always stay hydrated by drinking 6 to 8 cups of water a day. Prefer boiled water as it keeps your blood circulation going, which leads to a strong immune system that can protect you against getting infections and allergies.
4) Keep your surroundings clean
Always ensure that your surroundings are clean and free from garbage and stagnant water that are the breeding spots for mosquitoes and other insects. Get rid of stagnant water from everywhere. Empty the garden pots, old containers and other items, clean flower pots regularly and check every corner to ensure there is no water accumulation. This prevents mosquitoes, flies and other disease-carrying insects from swarming all over the place. Clean surroundings mean fewer diseases and healthier you.
5) Protect yourself from mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are our worst enemies as they carry lots of diseases, especially during the monsoon season. Malaria is one of such obnoxious diseases that spread through mosquitoes and can cause harmful effects on our health. Therefore it is advisable to use mosquito repellent, spray or cream in rainy days. There are various repellents that you can use – liquid vaporizers or electric plug-ins for indoors, mosquito coils and cards for gardens and outdoor spaces.
6) Avoid getting wet in the rain
During monsoon, try to avoid getting wet in the rainwater. For children, take extra precautions and don’t let them play in the rain. Avoid walking in dirty puddles as it makes you prone to monsoon diseases such as leptospirosis and fungal infections of the feet. If your clothes or footwear get wet, change them as soon as you can. When we get wet in the rain, the body experiences a sudden drop in the temperature and develops diseases. Therefore it’s advisable to take a hot shower after as it helps the body by stabilizing the cold temperature and brings it back to normal.
Though after all this, if there’s any symptom of infection or disease, get the person examined as soon as possible. At Femcity, the best women and children multispecialty hospital in Hyderabad, you’ll find the expert team of doctors and pediatricians to help you and your children. Visit us and have a safe and healthy monsoon!