10 Diseases That Are Prone to Affect Children in the Rainy Season

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Although it is fun, playing in the rain is not recommended for children because of its bad effects, especially when there is a flood. Not only causing natural disasters, floods are also a medium for the spread of various kinds of disease.

Floods have medium to long term impacts on health. One of them is increasing disease transmission through water and vectors. According to Dr. Nina Dwi Putri, SpA(K), Pediatrician, Tropical Infectious Diseases Sub-specialist and Central Executive of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, said that there are several modes of transmission caused by rain and flooding.

“Some diseases can be transmitted through contaminated water and the hygiene of the living environment which can be worsened by rain or flooding,” said Nina.

The Coordinating Work Unit for Infections and Tropical Diseases of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association provides a list of diseases that can affect children during rainy season.

Dengue
Stagnant water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and has the potential to increase exposure to dengue infection. Dengue virus infection is a common disease that attacks children and adults in the rainy season, occurring in the tropics. Symptoms of dengue fever include rash, high fever, and others. Apply 3M plus to eradicate mosquito nests and avoid their bites.

fungal infection
Since the skin is moist and wet all the time, the chances of a yeast infection are quite high. The skin must remain dry at all times. Ask the children to dry themselves after coming home. Fungi often multiply when the skin is moist and not exposed to air.

Leptospirosis
This disease is transmitted through skin or mucous membrane contact with soil, mud, or water contaminated with the urine of rodents infected with Leptospira bacteria. Even if you have a small cut on your leg, your child should be careful not to get into the contaminated water.

Gastrointestinal infection
Poor sewage systems, poor hygiene, overcrowding, and unhealthy water consumption during floods also contribute to gastrointestinal infections. To avoid infection from contaminated food and water, ask children to drink clean and cooked foods and eat healthy foods.

Influenza
An infection characterized by fever, muscle and head pain, painful swallowing, lethargy, and may be accompanied by symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. It is difficult to distinguish it from the symptoms of COVID-19. For that, a swab test is needed.

Conjunctivitis
Infection of the eye which is characterized by pain, red eyes, not strong light, watery, can be accompanied by dirt and stickiness. This infection is easily contagious, so keep the sick away, do not share towels and other items, and wash your hands frequently to suppress the transmission of typhoid or typhoid fever.

Typhoid or enteric fever
It is a disease caused by Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi. Symptoms include fever for more than five days, headache, and indigestion. Avoid this infection by staying away from clean food and drinks in order to suppress the transmission of typhoid or typhoid fever.

Cholera
Cholera is acute diarrhea caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Indonesian people generally know cholera by the name of vomiting defecation. In the early 18th century until the 19th century, cholera had become an epidemic that shook many countries in the world, including Indonesia.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is also a disease that is transmitted through water contaminated with the hepatitis A virus with symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, and yellow skin and eyes.

Colds
The common cold often presents with signs and symptoms of a cold and cough. Diseases caused by various viruses are most often found in the rainy season. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to distinguish it from a corona virus infection. For children affected by disasters flood on a large scale that requires evacuation and shelter processes, overcrowding in shelters can result in various diseases.

Also read: Don’t Say It Wrong, Typhoid and Typhoid Are Two Different Diseases

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