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Doctors suggest simple precautions to keep water-borne diseases at bay

PUDUCHERRY: With heavy rains causing water logging in parts of Puducherry, simple precautionary measures could prevent water-borne diseases including cholera, typhoid and leptospirosis and other rain-related health problems, according to medical practitioners.

Consuming contaminated drinking water and improper hygiene practices could raise the risk of water-borne diseases this season. One of the easiest means to avoid diseases is by boiling the water for consumption, said T.K. Dutta, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research.

“There might be an upsurge in the incidence of typhoid and leptospirosis in this season. Cholera might occur due to poor hygiene measures during the period. Cholera/acute gastroenteritis is caused by poor hygiene and contamination of drinking water. Chlorination of water is important as well as bleaching of areas,” he stressed.

At home, simple measures like boiling water will help to a large extent, he said. “The basic symptoms of cholera are sudden occurrence of vomiting and diarrhoea several times a day. There will be no fever and pain in the abdomen. This is due to severe shortage of fluid in the body and the treatment is fluid replacement such as intra venous saline in severe cases,” Dr. Dutta mentioned.

Though typhoid occurred throughout the year, there will be an increase in incidence during the rainy season. It is caused by contaminated food, doctors added. “Leptospirosis, which spread through excreta of rodents, enters through the skin. It is better to wear shoes while going to fields,” he said.

Medical Superintendent of Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate Institute V. Govindaraj said there is a possibility of stagnating rain water seeping into the drinking water sumps resulting in unsafe water. At the same time, food should be disposed as quickly as possible or else this might lead to formation of fungus causing gastroenteritis.

Flies should be prevented, he insisted. Doctors also said hepatitis A could be prevented with chlorination of water source.

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