Monsoon surely brings relief from scorching heat but it also sets the breeding ground for mosquitoes. As rainwater puddles aid an exponential spike in the mosquito population, monsoon is a high-risk season in terms of mosquito-borne diseases. Here is a list of mosquito-borne diseases we have to look out for this monsoon, and what we can do to keep ourselves protected.

1) Malaria:·

• It is a disease caused by plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes·
• Its transmission depends on climatic conditions with peaks during and just after the rainy season·
• Symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after the infective mosquito bite, which can include:
  • High fever
  • Body ache
  • Moderate to severe chills
  • Fall in body temperature resulting in excessive sweating
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea.

2) Dengue:·

• It is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti·
• Symptoms usually persist for 2–7 days, after an incubation period of 4–10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito·
• Dengue should be suspected when a high fever is accompanied with two of the following symptoms:
  • Severe headache
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Muscle and joint pains
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Swollen glands
  • Rash

3) Chikungunya:

• Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes ( Aedes aegypti mosquito and Aedes albopictus mosquito) and is caused by the chikungunya virus
• Symptoms usually occur 4-8 days later and include fever and joint pain.

Tips for prevention from mosquitoes borne diseases:Malaria, dengue, and chikungunya usually present with high fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

Prevention of mosquito breeding:

• Don’t allow water to stagnate or collect anywhere in and around the house;
• Remove excess water from plant pot and plates;
• Domestic water storage containers such as coolers, buckets, etc. should be covered, emptied and cleaned on a weekly basis;
• Non-biodegradable items of household waste – or solid waste – should, wherever possible, be limited, with the rule ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ applied as much as practicable. When discarding waste, do so in sealed plastic bags to avoid containers becoming unintended breeding hot-spots;
• Properly use insecticides to treat water storage/outdoor containers.

Personal protection from mosquito bites:

• Use personal household protection measures, like repellents, insecticide treated nets etc.
• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeve clothes that reduce skin exposure to mosquitoes
• Close doors and windows before sunset as mosquitoes are active during the evening
• Mosquitoes are usually seen in dark places. Ensure appropriate lighting in your home
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping
• By providing mosquitos fewer opportunities to bite us, we not only protect ourselves from life-threatening diseases, but we also limit their circulation. That makes everyone safer.

Dr. Divya Vaz