Watch Out! The Monsoons Are Here!

Have you ever looked up, mouth wide open during a downpour to catch refreshing raindrops? Wasn't it fun as a child to stomp in puddles only to have your mom or dad scold you for getting water into your school socks and shoes?

Yippee!! It's the monsoon season. The little rascal in us beckons to `let go' and enjoy the rain showers and be carefree. Why worry that this rainy season reduces our body's immunity making us vulnerable to a world of infections.

The monsoons that give us life also give sustenance to malaria, jaundice, typhoid and cholera germs by helping them thrive. This is besides the dampness bringing on the common colds & coughs.

But, don't panic! A few precautions during this time of the year can go a long way in keeping these infections at bay.

WATER: The maximum infections during this season are water-borne. So:
•    Carry clean drinking water, wherever you go. We recommend boiling the water for at least 10 minutes, to destroy the disease-causing organisms.
•    Opt for beverages with no added ice cubes. The weather is anyway so cool.
•    Opt for packaged beverages, which have been pasteurized. Gulping down beverages from street vendors is a strict No-No.

FOOD: Food poisoning from E-coli, Salmonella or other bacterial infections are very common during this season. Therefore;
•    Eat well-cooked and hot food. High temperatures tend to kill these bacteria.
•    Avoid eating raw and uncooked food outside, such as salads, fruits, etc.
•    Throw out food, which has a strange odor or is moldy.
•    Eat at restaurants that are known to maintain hygienic conditions in their kitchens.
•    Wash leafy vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, spinach, etc. thoroughly, as tapeworm infections through consumption of these is very common.
•    Avoid seafood as contamination and poisoning is common.
•    Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables well with clean water before chopping.
•    Avoid raw eggs and use only eggs with intact shells. Any cracks in the shell, the egg should be discarded.

A Few Words of Caution!
•    If you are diabetic, take extra care of your feet during the monsoon season and avoid walking barefoot, at all costs.
•    Asthmatic patients should ensure their immediate surroundings are allergen-free. Look out for fungus that grows on wooden furniture and other articles like shoes and leather bags.
•    Keep your surroundings mosquito-free. Prevent stagnant water from collecting in open cans, tires, and flowerpots, as they are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Make these small efforts, and enjoy the heavenly monsoons, with faces turned up, eyes tightly shut, and mouth wide open to catch those delicious raindrops.

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