Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Tips to keep monsoon blues at bay

J. R. Shridharan

Children more susceptible to diseases during rainy season

VIJAYAWADA: The onset of monsoon brings with it a lot of cheer but some diseases, mostly of water-borne variety, too. Naturally, this gives parents sleepless nights, as children are more susceptible to these diseases. Along with fever such as malaria, which is caused by mosquito bite, many bacterial infections are set to strike the happy-go-lucky tiny tots and school-going children.

Deeksha Meher Prasad, a dermatologist, says the first and foremost precaution that parents should take is to boil the drinking water. "Many health complications during monsoon can be averted by drinking boiled water. Children should also desist from eating junk food on the roadside, as the unhygienic surroundings in such places are breeding places for bacteria," she explains.

Dr. Deeksha points out that during monsoon the number of stomachache cases increases due to consumption of junk food served on roadside. "Children should avoid eating noodles, pulkas and other eateries sold on pavements." Explaining that monsoon is also a season for skin diseases, Dr. Deeksha says: "Fungus infections are regular with school-going children due to wearing of shoes and socks soaked in rain water."

S. Nambiar, a general physician, says personal hygiene is of paramount importance during monsoon. "Some common ailments among schoolchildren are upper respiratory diseases such as cold and cough. Children should avoid getting drenched in rain water, while parents should always store some essential medicines at home as a precautionary measure," he says.

Dr. Deeksha also warns parents not to overuse medicated soaps. "Medicated soaps should be used only occasionally. Regular usage of such soaps in case of children will harm the texture of the skin. It is not important what soap we use. What is important is how thoroughly we clean the body," she explains.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is also gearing up to tackle monsoon related diseases by launching anti-larvae activities in all vulnerable areas. "We have taken anti-larvae operations in a big way in all major drains and also in irrigation canals, including Budameru. Silt is being removed to avoid water stagnation. In the entire 6-km stretch of Budameru from Rajarajeswaripet to Gunadala, aquatic plants have been removed to prevent breeding of mosquitoes," says VMC biologist S. Kesava Rao.

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