Unseasonal rains often take us by surprise and can offer several health challenges. In our cities, due to bad planning and poor infrastructure, the rains come with a host of diseases. Problems like cold and coughs are very common. Other common diseases include malaria, dengue, eye infections, hepatitis and leptospirosis. Personal hygiene and clean surroundings are important in preventing rain related diseases. Stay healthy and safe by following these tips.

The rains make the weather damp and cold. This encourages molds and fungus to grow on walls. Stay away from these damp areas and always clean surfaces with a good disinfectant. Special care should be taken while cleaning kitchen surfaces and bathrooms since germs quickly breed here.

Stagnant water causes breeding of mosquitoes, which in turn causes dengue and malaria. Ensure that there are good screens to prevent them from entering your home. Cover water containers and do not let water collect in coconut shells, open buckets, old tires etc. If you have an air- cooler, put a few drops of kerosene in the water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in it. At night, sleep with a good mosquito net. During the day keep a mosquito repellent in the room. While going out or while at home, use a repellent cream to prevent bites.

Do not drink tap water directly. Drinking water pipes run parallel to sewage pipes. During monsoons the drinking water can get contaminated and muddy. Drink only boiled, filtered or UV treated water during this time. This prevents the spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid by 50%. These cases can require hospitalization and in some cases are fatal. Try and avoid eating out as much as possible. You can never be sure of the levels of hygiene when you eat out. If you do need to have food from outside, always order food that is hot and ask for bottled water. At home you can make use of Alum to purify your water. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to these water borne diseases as they have low immunity. Drink plenty of warm or hot water at this time to stay away from colds and coughs and to stay well hydrated.

Keep yourself clean and dry. Have a hot bath once or twice every day and use a good disinfectant soap to avoid fungal and bacterial infections. Avoid wading through contaminated rain water as it harbors harmful bacteria like Leptospirosis. This can cause skin infections and fungal infections in the feet and toe- nails. Do not ignore fever during this time and take care to cover and disinfect cuts and wounds especially on your lower body. Using a mild disinfectant in your bath water helps kill any bacteria. This is especially important if you are using stored water for bathing.

If you do get caught in a down pour have a hot bath immediately and change your clothes. Wear loose fitting cotton clothes. Dry your body well, especially the creases like your arm pits and in between your toes. Dust some talcum powder over your body. Let your hair dry completely. Stay warm and have a hot drink soon after.

Wash your hands well with a good antibacterial soap before eating, cooking food and after using the washroom. Keep your nails clean and short. Make sure small children do not put their hands in their mouth or bite their nails as this can lead to them ingesting bacteria.

While the bleak, dull weather may dampen our spirits. Following these tips can help us cope with the rains. Clean surroundings, fresh and dry clothes and hot food or a hot beverage can help boost our mood and keep us healthy!