The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states that almost 70% of the disease outbreaks in India are waterborne diseases, and these diseases are spearheaded by cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and diarrhoea. Shocking, right?

The polluted water is not only something that destabilises our health, but it also undermines the whole system of living clean that the population has always worked on and imposes extra costs on the families. But do not fret, here is your end-to-end monsoon-proof guide that will help you regain your footing over these trickster diseases by providing practical and effective ways of prevention.

India is a country where getting clean water remains a work-in-progress to many people, and this is in the rural areas and urban slums where cases of water-borne diseases rise exceptionally in the monsoon. Germs find their playground in flooded drains, overflowed sewage, and stagnant puddles, which are the nightmares of public health.

Waterborne diseases are essentially introduced as diseases spread by tiny pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the polluted water. The distribution of these diseases occurs when we imbibe, bathe in, or make contact with infected water or food that is made with the use of such water.

Common Waterborne Diseases in India

• Cholera : The Causative agent of cholera is Vibrio cholerae. The symptoms of cholera include a lot of fluidy watery diarrhoea, dehydration. Cholera gets through the family as quickly and riskily as gossip on a family WhatsApp group.
• Typhoid Fever : What causes it is Salmonella typhi; the symptoms include high fever, fatigue, stomachache, and headache. Typhoid fever is typical in places that have poor sanitation. Unclean street food may be a villain.
• Hepatitis A : The causative agent is the Hepatitis A virus. The symptoms include jaundice (eyes/skin yellowing), tiredness, and poor appetite. It is this liver invader that is usually transmitted via polluted food or drinks.
• Diarrhea & Dysentery : It originates with: Bacteria (E. coli, Shigella), viruses, or parasites. The prominent symptoms are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and dehydration. It is among the most dangerous causes of death in children under 5 in India. That is terrible yet not impossible to stop.
• Amoebiasis and Giardiasis : The etiological agents are parasites such as Giardia lamblia or Entamoeba histolytica, with symptoms such as ramps, bloating, weight loss, and gas. Waiting in untreated water, they transform your bowel into their playing field.

Why does the Monsoon make the situation worse?

Monsoon transforms our urban centres into Venice (with a less romantic flavour) and swamps weak sewage systems. Water stagnations, sewer pipes outflow, and open bowel release allow an easy way for pathogens to enter the water sources. Also, regular power interruption usually interferes with the water purification system, especially in semi-urban and rural settlements.

Your Survival Kit in the Monsoons

• Boil or Filter Drinking Water : No matter where you live, be it Bangalore or Bareilly, start getting into the habit of boiling 10 to 15 minutes of water or using RO + UV filters, which is firmly suggested by the specialists from the best medicine hospital in Delhi. There is trust concerning water that is safe to treat and drink.
• Always consume home-cooked and fresh food : It might be tempting to get that golgappa stall, but monsoon is not the season to take risks. Avoid raw street food, salad, and chutneys. Clean the fruits and the vegetables because that helps wash them thoroughly, ideally using potassium permanganate or a baking soda solution.
• Clean Your Hands Frequently : Soap and water should be used for 20 seconds prior to meals, after visiting the washroom, or after going outside. Otherwise, have a sanitiser with you.
• Avoid standing water : Water should not be allowed to stagnate in pots, tires, or open receptacles. It is not only a haven for bacteria, but also dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
• Hygiene in the Kitchen : Wash clean with warm water, cover foods, and have a different cutting board while chopping raw meat and vegetables. Germs are great fans of a messy kitchen (more than biryani of us).
• Take Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) : When you or someone you love has diarrhoea, do not waste any time because ORS should be started immediately. It is a lifesaver that avoids dehydration and also maintains energy levels.
• Vaccination is the Key : Yes, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Cholera vaccinations can be taken. Consult a specialist and take the shots, particularly when you are living in a high-risk locale.

The role of public responsibility can best be expressed as facing up to a situation which cannot be overcome. It is the acknowledgement that it is hopeless, the recognition of a situation of which one is powerless, which one has to face up to. This is not a personal struggle, but this is a communal struggle. The municipal bodies are required to sustain asafe supply of water, clean the drains and raise health awareness. Yet you can also help, namely by reporting leaks, not littering and educating your community.

Water is life, and it can only be life when it is clean. As much as it is a joyous season, monsoon season poses a threat to a health crisis in case we are not wary. With water-borne diseases afflicting almost 37.7 million individuals in the country every year, it is high time we stepped up our sanitation policy. And in this spirit, we shall drink our masala chai. The monsoons are here, and with guarded hearts. Since prevention is not only as good as a cure, but it also happens to be cheaper, smarter, and at least a lot less dramatic. And for proper precaution and diagnostic care from waterborne diseases, book an appointment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital today.