Philippines: Common Illnesses During Rainy Season

Posted by TTN Palawan on Aug 08, 2018

Dark, wet (if not muddy :-( ) and gloomy – describes our past few days, few weeks and a few months already. Monsoon rains in the Philippines happening during these several weeks mark the rainy season's penetration in the country this time of the year which is usually around June-December and sometimes go as far as February to some places in the country. Funny time too for students to be back at school again as teachers open their doors every June of the year. It is also that during these wet times of the year when you get the risk of contracting common illnesses for a rainy season.

Cold and Cough
The common virus that often causes common cold is often the rhinovirus, although many viruses can really contribute. Often spread through the air from someone who is sick when they sneeze or when they talk. It usually affects the throat and can lead to having watery eyes, clogged nose, sore throat, little fever, or eventually cough. Often Common Illnesses During Rainy Season taking vitamin C tablets and drinking up some ginger tea, eating vitamin C- rich fruits help. If you like cold drinks, you might want to avoid it when you have a cold or a cough as it might make your nasal congestion worse. If you have a sore throat, gargle with lukewarm water with some salt. Rainy season means a cooler temperature that people believe to contribute to contracting the illness, but it may not be necessarily the case always.

Influenza
Characterized by fever, headache, muscle pains, and chills that are sometimes accompanied by the continuation of cold and cough. It is caused by a flu virus.
If you have flu, you have better got to be getting a good rest. Often when I have symptoms of this illness, I would just go earlier to bed and make sure I have a good night sleep. It usually does it for me. Also making sure that you are drinking more fluids are essential too when having flu. You can also take ginger tea which is said to really help with those who are under the flu spell. Ginger tea helps in relieving the feelings of being nauseated and, at the same time, sooth the cough or a sore throat that usually comes with it. Getting a good bowl of chicken soup also does wonder when having flu. Research suggests that chicken soup is effective for reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.

Dengue Fever
Rainy season means more water that is caught by empty containers around your house. Stagnant waters are a favorite breeding place for disease-carrying mosquitoes like the dengue carrier Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes. Dengue fever if not treated immediately can be fatal. This disease claims many lives each year. Dengue fever's symptoms usually start with a fever. If fever goes on with really achy muscles and without cold or a cough, make sure to get your blood tested to be sure within 3 days since contracting the fever. Prevention includes cleaning up your yard from stagnant water caught in spaces and containers of all sorts. Natural cure that many have found to be effective include drinking 'tawa-tawa' weed tea, more information on the herbal medicine on the link.

Cholera
Often caused by contaminated food or water, cholera is characterized by having diarrhea accompanied by vomiting which leads to dehydration. Often oral rehydration salts are used to treating this illness, although the patient should be very careful in making sure that the lost fluids will be replaced as much as possible to avoid the illness from getting to its worse.

Leptospirosis
Rains bring about flooding to many streets in the country during rainy seasons. Many flooded areas stay flooded for days or even weeks leaving the residents of no other option but to pass through flooded waters. Even kids playing under the rain and in the flood are a normal sight during this wet season. Leptospirosis is an illness caused by rats (yes, a bigger version of ratatouille!) wastes that infects the water, often flood, where people are in danger when they pass through. The infection often comes in a person's body through an open wound. The symptoms for Leptospirosis often consist of the same symptoms as in flu and dengue: fever, chills, muscle pains, vomiting and or diarrhea. It is best to have yourself checked when symptoms occur to be safe. It is also a reminder to avoid walking through or playing in flood waters, especially if you have a wound on your feet.

Athlete's Foot
Rainwaters can make a populous Philippine city flooded in an instant yet it may take a while for the waters to recede due to drainage system problems countrywide. This is the reason why many people are left with no choice or resources to avoid walking or passing through flooded walkways. Athlete's foot is a cause of a fungal infection that turns the skin on the feet be flaky and eventually crack and develop into sores. A home remedy for this infection can be a foot soak made of a ½ cup of baking soda dissolved in a basin of warm water. Baking soda is said to have antifungal properties according to a study. The feet must be soaked in the mixture for 15-20 minutes, two times a day.

Reference: www.travelinpalawan.com/tawa-tawa-dengue-treatment/