With monsoon rain comes the waterlogging issue — a perennial headache to the Delhiites. Moreover, residents biggest worry is stagnant water outside their houses that provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies leading to the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Chances of dengue cases go high in such prevailing coniditions, according to doctors.
Dr Rakesh Sharma, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, said the cases of viral fever have shoot up drastically as post rain the weather becomes conducive for mosquito breeding. During monsoon, people should ensure that gutters and roofs should be cleaned and dried at the earliest, said Dr Sharma.
Dr KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General, IMA, said fever during the monsoon season in India can be deceptive as malaria, viruses causing dengue, chikungunya and jaundice, and bacteria causing typhoid can all produce fever in this season. These infections are contracted in unhygienic conditions, he added.
Doctors said in humid and moist condition, viruses multiple faster and those who have weaker immunity get contracted to the disease, especially the young ones. Doctors have attended patients suffering from chikungunya and chicken pox too in the season.
Dr SP Byotra, Chairman Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “People should be extremely careful about their health these days. Contracting infections through waterlogging can make people sick. Standard hygiene with nutritious diet is a way to keep healthy these days. In the past few days, cases of vomiting and viral infections have gone up.” Stagnant water also invites host of other diseases due to the unhygienic conditions.
Besides, humid temperature has also increased health aliments for people suffering from respiratory disorders, said the doctor. Waterlogging around the city increases the risk of water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, viral infection fever, and jaundice. According to doctors, there is a spurt in the OPD with patients visiting hospitals with the health complications.