The much-awaited monsoon rains are here, and while it is a blessing to get respite from the scorching heat, it comes along with the added risk of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and gastroenteritis—predominantly among children. The stale and dirty water and poor hygiene are fertile breeding grounds for lethal viruses and bacteria.
Dr. Preeti Anand, Senior Consultant, Paediatrics, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, says that children are prone to infection due to lower immunity and repeated hand-to-mouth activity, and therefore it is essential to implement preventive methods to protect them from this during the period.
1. Ensure Safe Drinking Water: The simplest, safest, and most effective way of protecting our children from waterborne diseases is to provide children with clean, boiled, or filtered drinking water. Purify water using water purifiers or boil water for 10 minutes and then drink it. Don't use stored or opened water that might be contaminated.
2. Promote Hand Hygiene: Handwashing should be promoted at all times. Teach children to wash their hands with soap and clean water before meals, after toilet use, and after playing outdoors. Hand washing can be an effective prevention strategy for infection with diarrhoea and hepatitis A.
3. Avoid Street Food and Unhygienic Snacks: Street food bought from roadside vendors must be avoided and discouraged since they are likely to be washed or prepared in unclean water. Home foods and washed fruits and vegetables must be consumed.
4. Maintain Personal Hygiene: The child must be bathed daily with clean water and dressed in dry clothes. Dirty or muddy clothes must be replaced immediately to avoid skin and fungal infections.
5. Prevent Water Stagnation: Prevent water from accumulating in vacant pails, flowerpots, etc. Clean and inspect drains regularly to prevent breeding of dengue and malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. Keep the area clean and dry.
6. Use Proper Sanitation: Do not defecate in the open and educate children to use toilets efficiently. Keep toilets clean with no leakage and overflow.
7. Stay Alert to Symptoms: Monitor for signs of waterborne illness, such as loose stools, nausea, fever, stomach cramps, or jaundice. See a doctor if any of these are experienced.
Protection of children from waterborne diseases during the monsoon season is more a matter of awareness and preventive hygiene practices. By simple measures like the availability of clean drinking water, sanitation, proper hygiene practices, and early medical intervention, parents and care givers can easily reduce the risk of infection. These simple measures can go a long way in keeping the children healthy and cheerful during the rainy season.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis
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