The Reason Why Rainy Season Makes Us Sick And How To Prevent It

A girl under the rains

The rains are here again. For those who are into seasonal business, it is either it will favour them or disrupt their business. This time of the year makes farmers smile with joy. 

The time staying back at home looks more beautiful than going out. A time when most children dream of especially when play under the rain is allowed by the parent.

However, another major factor makes the rainy season a time when we see gloomy faces. Why? The season makes many people sick. The type of sickness is quite different from those in the dry season. Moreover, it combines those of dry season with some strange ones. Another question that needs answer is why is it so?

Rainy season in Nigeria starts from May through October with two peaks. So many people believe that the rains make us sick. The reason for such belief is that most sickness occurs after being beaten by the rains in any peculiar day. However, not all get sick after getting wet by the rains. This means that something else is responsible. Let us see.

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The environment is polluted. This means that the atmosphere is full of bacteria. Most of these bacteria float in the air through out the dry season being controlled by the wind. They find it difficult to reach earth when they need to because they are light weight. This changes when the rain moisture the environment, give them weight while bringing them to the earth with rain drops. For those who get to inhale, or consume such water, sickness is looming.

Some bacteria thrive more during cold weather. Fortunately, for them, the rains come with cold wind bringing down the temperature of the environment from the normal hot temperature that is unfavourable for them. This is the same mechanism the body adapt when fighting most bacteria by increasing the temperature of the body. High temperature does not favour most bacteria. The increased temperature during high fever is the design of the body to prevent the action of those bacteria that thrive during cold weather.

The lower temperature lowers human body temperature. This encourages the proliferation of such bacteria in the body especially those who sit at home doing nothing. It also affects those who get home from the rain and goes straight to bed. No physical activities with low environmental temperature encourage the bacteria to acts.

Low temperature decreases human immune system. For example, low-temperature decrease defence of the nasal mucosa through slowing blood supply to the mucosa. Flu attack becomes imminent. That is why flu is one of the major diseases in the rainy season.

There is a decrease in the availability of sunshine. The cloud can shield of the sun for hours even days. We all know the sun provides a lot of energy both to plant animals directly and indirectly. Humans manufacture their own vitamin D and Melatonin from morning sunlight. These are ingredients that serve defence purpose when prevent.

Summary Of Effects Of Rainy Season On Diseases

1. Always Indoors: This is very common especially with the increase in technology. Many families will lock themselves indoors; switch on the electric generators while watching movies. It becomes easy sharing bacteria among themselves as no fresh air comes in.
2. Weaken Immune System: Low sun light meaning low temperature will encourage bacteria domination.
3. Bacteria Life Span: Bacteria that thrive during rainy season mostly live longer hence cause more problem.

Common Disease During Rainy Season

• Malaria: Transmitted by female anopheles mosquito, the malaria parasite, which are divide into four species, thrive in all season. However, this is not the case with their vector, the mosquito. They breed in stagnant, slow moving water. Since the rains provide enough stagnant waters, they thrive multiplying at a fast pace. At the tail end, cause more malaria.
• Common Cold: Caused by a range of virus especially rhinoviruses, it spread through airborne droplets including direct contact with infected nasal secretions.
• Flu/Influenza: The signs are a cough and sneeze. It can complicate and deadly. A typical example is a pneumonia.
• Cholera: Drinking direct rainwater is the major cause of this since it is a water borne disease. It thrives during the rains.
• Diarrhoea: The method of transmission is same with cholera. Just that signs and symptoms are different
• Typhoid: Always present when there is malaria infection. Cause by bacteria is transmitted by drinking contaminated water.
• Dengue Haemorrhagic: Another mosquito transmitted infection. Same explanation with malaria except that this is transmitted by Aedes mosquito and the disease has no cure nor vaccine. Treatment is by managing signs and symptoms
• Leptospirosis: Transmitted by animals such as such as rodents via urine. It is a bacterial infection caused by consuming contaminated food and water.

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Prevention Of Disease Caused During The Rainy Season

A lot of people will say the best form of defence is to avoid the rains. And if avoiding it is not possible, protect yourself from the rains by using umbrella or raincoat. However, I have an opinion that no one should be deprived of Mother Nature. The rains are not a curse that should be avoided like a plague. Rather, it is a blessing for both plants and animals. Even some animals that suffer a lot from rains sometimes take a chill in the rains.

I have experience of fowl sometimes taking a stroll under the rains maybe enjoying it. However, they avoid it in other occasions because it makes them sick. This should be the mentality we should adopt as humans too.

Other suggestions have been to increase the amount of vitamin c intake to prevent and treat flu symptoms. This has not proven successful. However, here are some proven theories that may be effective.

1. Take a warm shower after getting wet by the rains. This help to remove bacteria from your skin that may find their way into your body through your skin or openings in your body. The warm water will play a role in increasing the temperature of your body to some reasonable degree. Make sure to dry your skin after the shower and wear clean warm cloths.
2. Increase the temperature of your body by consuming hot foods and drinks. Avoid cold foods this period to a reasonable degree.
3. Maintain simple hygiene. There is countless simple hygiene like washing hands at all times. The list is endless. If you have been practising simple hygiene, it will be easy during the rains.
4. Increase your water intake level. Water in our body has a lot of functions of which some of them are

• Helps in draining toxins.
• It neutralises toxins

     5.   Drink herbal tea. They have antiseptic properties.

     6.   Eat a balanced diet. Prepare these foods in a hygienic environment. Eat natural                    healthy foods. Avoid mama put during this season. Cook your food well.
     7.  Use good skin care products. Avoid moisturising creams. Use sun cream. Go for non-            alkaline cleansers that remove dirt from skin.

     8.   Avoid heavy make up

     9.   Avoid walking in dirty waters

    10. Lastly, be active. Regular exercise keeps your blood flowing which in turn                           increase your temperature.

Tips

1. Use mosquito treated bed net
2. Avoid air condition when wet or catching cold
3. Never leave wet cloths in your body for long.

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