Monsoon fever can be deceptive and dangerous

Any medication should be taken only in consultation with a specialist

New Delhi, July 30, 2018: The number of those with fever and other associated conditions increases during monsoons in India, indicate statistics. However, in this season, any episode of fever should not be taken lightly as there may be many diseases responsible, the commonest being viral, malaria, dengue, or Chikungunya. Awareness need to be created on identifying the warning signals and getting expert help at the earliest to avoid comorbidities.

With the monsoon, varsharitu starts in India. In Ayurveda, it is the time for aggravation of Vata or the movement functions in the body. While this is a time to rejoice, it is also imperative to take certain precautions, especially in children, failing which they can become susceptible to a host of diseases and infections.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “While one should not ignore persistent fever during monsoons, it is also important to not indulge in self-diagnosis. Fever can be an indication of various conditions and monsoon fever, in particular, can be deceptive. Viral fever is associated with cough, redness of the eyes or nasal discharge. Dengue is accompanied by fever with rash and pain in eye movement. Chikungunya is a triad of fever, rash, and joint pain. Typically, the joint pain increases on compression of the joint. Malarial fever comes with chills and rigors and will have a normal phase in between two episodes of fever. Fever in jaundice disappears after the onset of the condition. Lastly, typhoid fever is often continuous with a relatively low pulse rate and with toxic feeling.”

Many of the diseases in this season occur due to water stagnation and resultant breeding of mosquitoes. Contamination of drinking water is also common. It is important to drink clean and pure water to prevent diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Vice President of CMAAO, said, “There is no need to consume antibiotics unless there is a feeling of toxemia. Antibiotics in cases of sore throat are only required if associated with pain in the throat while swallowing food or red angry–looking tonsils. Except for paracetamol or nimesulide, other anti-fever medicines should not be used indiscriminately as they can reduce a person’s platelet count. Most diseases in this season are self-limiting and can take 4 to 7 days to resolve. The basic precaution involves proper hydration, especially on the days when fever is subsiding.”

Some tips from HCFI

• Eat light food as the GI system of the body cannot digest heavy food.
• Do not eat leafy vegetables without washing or boiling as they may be contaminated with eggs of round worms. Beware of eating snacks at some outside stall.
• Beware of electrical deaths in this season as the coolers without earthing can leak electricity.
• Do not walk barefooted as most worms can come out and cause the infection. Do not keep wet clothes and leather without proper drying them as they may attract fungus.
• With each shower of rain, the BP may fluctuate so medications must be revisited.
• Do not play in stagnant water as rat urine mixed with rain water may produce lactosyrosis (fever with jaundice)
• Do not let water accumulate in the house or surrounding areas. Drink only boiled or safe water as there are more chances of diarrhea, jaundice, and typhoid in this season.