4 Common Diseases During the Rainy Season to Watch Out For!

Ilhamsadli.com,- Singapore is currently facing extreme weather, from scorching heat in the morning and followed by extreme rainfall in the evening. This climate is an ideal catalyst for an illness that could impact your health and overall well-being. Thus, staying aware and taking necessary precautions is important. 

During the rainy season, the increased humidity and moisture create an environment where microbes and viruses can thrive, making it a season prone to certain diseases. Not to mention, conditions like decreased immunity can further heightened susceptibility to illnesses.

To ensure you and your family can stay healthy even with this extreme weather, you should watch out for some common diseases that can be prevalent during the rainy season in Singapore!

Flu Outbreak

Flu is the ultimate disease that most often happens during extreme weather. With the increased humidity and changes in temperature during the rainy season, it is no wonder that it can create a condition that promotes the escalation of the flu virus.

According to Harvard University’s Science, several factors can contribute to increased flu disease cases during the rainy season:

Lack of Outdoor Activity: During extreme weather, people tend to spend more time indoors, which can foster the transmission of viruses causing diseases like flu and cough. Poor air circulation in enclosed spaces can raise the risk of virus spread.

Reduced Sun Exposure: Lack of outdoor activity will also reduce sun exposure to our body. Less sunlight in the rainy season leads to vitamin D and melatonin deficiency. This can compromise the immune system, and increase our body's vulnerability to viruses and illnesses.

Virus Thriving: The heightened humidity during the rainy season creates an environment conducive to virus proliferation, which can contribute to flu outbreaks during this period.

Respiratory Illness

During the rainy season, respiratory illnesses become more prevalent, especially with the ongoing threat of COVID-19, making it a dominant concern in Singapore during this time. Lately, recent increases in COVID-19 cases have contributed to the overall rise in respiratory illness cases. While weather itself may not directly escalate COVID-19, specific weather conditions could indirectly impact its transmission.

Dr. Jimmy Chew, CEO of OneCare Medical, suggests that if cold weather persists and various strains of respiratory infections continue to circulate, Singapore might expect sustained case numbers.

Diarrhea

The rainy season can also contribute to an increase in cases of diarrhea. Diarrhea itself, is a disease characterized by watery stools released and the frequency of bowel movements that are more often than usual. This disease can range from mild and temporary conditions, and even to life-threatening.

During the rainy season, there’s often an increase in waterborne disease due to contaminated water sources, flooding, and poor sanitation. This condition can lead to the spread of bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhea.

Although with Singapore's top-notch cleanliness, we don't have to worry too much about poor sanitation, keeping a watchful eye might be better. You should limit yourself from eating out, and opt to have healthy home-cooked meals and lots of fruit to help increase your body's immunity!

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is the kind of disease that is caused by Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes. Although Singapore has been actively managing and working to control diseases like dengue fever, cases can vary from year to year. After all, this type of disease has been a recurring issue in Singapore due to the country's tropical climate.

In September last year, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore, even issued a cautionary statement, which highlighted the increased likelihood of a dengue outbreak in Singapore. Thus the public was strongly advised to promptly address mosquito breeding to prevent the spread of disease.

Dengue fever tends to thrive during the rainy season. With the increased rainfall in Singapore nowadays, it can create more breeding sites for mosquitoes that can transmit the dengue virus.

How to Prevent Catching-up Disease During Extreme Weather?

During this time around, remaining vigilant and aware of your health and surroundings is important to keep you and your family's health safe. The weather might be extreme, but our health should be prioritized no matter what the weather is! Below are some of the tips that you can do to prevent catching any disease that we’ve mentioned above!

Maintain Personal Hygiene

This is a must-do for everyone, you should even teach your little one how to clean their hands properly. Regularly washing hands with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the restroom, is a must to prevent the spread of germs. After going out, it is also a must to change your clothes first before lounging up on your bed.

Mask On

Putting your mask on will not only help to prevent COVID-19, but it can also do wonders to keep yourself safe from any kind of disease, such as diarrhea, flu, and cough. Especially if you often visit indoor public spaces with many people around, ensuring you put your mask on can be helpful to keep you and the people around you safe during this extreme weather.

Boost Immune System

Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep - these are the best things you can do to strengthen your body’s defenses and immune system.

Maintain a Healthy Home EnvironmentMaintaining your home cleanliness is also important during this time around. Cleaning and sanitizing your home frequently can also be helpful to ensure your and your family's health. If you are too busy or too tired to do the cleaning by yourself, you can hire a part time maid Singapore for home cleaning services to maintain a clean home and reduce exposure to germs. This can be a great way for you to create a healthier home environment, particularly during extreme weather when diseases are more prevalent!

Ilham Sadli

Seorang Travel blogger sekaligus freelance Writer yang tergabung dalam Forum Lingkar Pena Cabang Jember sejak 2014, suka menulis puisi dan kadang terlalu nyaman dengan menulis kisah seseorang.

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