The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Beware! They crawl, carrying diseases

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 18, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Beware! They crawl, carrying diseases

R. Sujatha

Photo: V. Ganesan

HEALTH HAZARD: Mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water in a stormwater drain on G.N. Chetty Road. —

CHENNAI: As the temperature falls and humidity increases, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents and white ants try to find warm places to shelter. As some of these pests carry diseases, steps need to be taken to prevent them from infesting homes.

After the recent intermittent rains, swarms of mosquitoes can be seen in the city in the evening and at night. Laboratories have registered a rise in the number of people testing for malaria and dengue, doctors say. Some laboratories have already begun receiving blood samples testing positive for malaria.

Anita Suryanarayanan, Chief of Laboratory Services, Lister Metropolis, said teens, particularly those in the 11-18 years of age, were more prone to dengue as their immunity during these years was low. Also, the virus mutates, making it difficult for teenagers to built resistance against it. During the teen years, the children do not get enough rest. When the symptoms of dengue are noticed, it is important to keep track of the platelet count in blood. If platelet counts fall, the children could become seriously ill, Dr. Anita said.

The laboratory currently receives 10 - 12 samples a day for malaria testing now and the number increases to 30 samples during the rainy season.

Hygiene crucial

Hygiene plays a major role at home. Sealing cracks in storerooms and kitchen areas will prevent insects from entering. Placing gully traps in water drains in the house, in the kitchen and the bathroom can keep out cockroaches. Doctors say when cockroaches contaminate food, it could lead to health problems including diarrhoea, jaundice and other viral diseases.

Homes that go for pest control are prepared for monsoon by Deepavali, said T. Girish, assistant general manager of Pest Control India. “The rush for pest control will begin in September and peaks just before Deepavali, ” he said.

Water stagnation after rain may result in rodents entering the house. The best way to keep out rats is to keep doors and windows tightly shut and ensure that any opening is sealed, Mr. Girish said.

So far this year, north Chennai, where outbreaks of acute diarrhoeal disease, malaria and conjunctivitis are reported every year, has been relatively free of epidemics. It is normal to have around 230 patients every month as inpatients at the Communicable Diseases Hospital, said Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni. On Saturday, 10 of the 30 who came to the hospital for treatment were admitted. With more people seeking treatment in private hospitals, the CDH’s numbers are not indicative of the magnitude of the problem, doctors pointed out.

Last year, during this time of the year, hundreds of people in north Chennai were treated for acute diarrhoeal disease. But, this time, as the Metrowater Department had taken steps to improve water supply, the problem has been taken care of, Mr. Lakhoni said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu