Dear Doctor, What medical conditions are children aged under 5 more susceptible to during the rainy season?

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Dear Alice,

The rainy season brings a cool weather and greenery. But it can also cause some health problems. The most common problem occurring is viral influenza. Common cold or coryza also occurs frequently. . Influenza or coryza manifests as running of nose, blocked nose or sneezing, fever, headache , one or more of these symptoms. It is due to a viral infection, which spreads as a droplet infection. Objects touched by many people like phones, pen, e.t.c. also become source of infection due to being contaminated. It is a self subsiding condition and does not need any treatment as such.

Those prone to allergy can get cold due to change in climate and vegetation Attacks of asthma can be precipitated and aggravated in this weather in those who are vulnerable. Skin diseases like eczema can also be aggravated. Scabies, a contagious skin disease also occurs commonly during rains. Number of mosquitoes is increased during rains and this causes increase in mosquito borne illness like malaria, viral encephalitis, e.t.c. As rains wash sewage and dirt in water bodies, they become contaminated. Use of such untreated water causes diseases like hepatitis A, typhoid, e.t.c. Gastrointestinal infections manifesting as diarrhoea and or vomiting can also occur.

Dr Rachna Pande  is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital