Preventive Measures You Can Take To Avoid Diarrhea During Monsoon

Monsoon brings relief indeed, from the scorching heat and the sun being at its worst to rains offering some relief the transition is beautiful and calming. The refreshing winds and the downpour are very welcome after being sunstroked and trying to not go out at all. But along with respite, the monsoon also brings along infections, diseases and terrible body conditions which are contagious and affect many. 

Monsoon in India is accompanied by both a positive and a negative impact. The reasons for saying so are simple. Since Indian economy largely depends on agriculture and monsoon is awaited for having a good agricultural produce. However, monsoon also is the time of the year when your immunity is at its lowest and your digestive system is weak which means you are at a higher risk of getting sick. Many ailments that are infectious and unpleasant spread during the monsoon. One such disease is diarrhea which is an intestine infection which happens mostly due to contaminated food and water. Let us learn some more about how it happens and what can you do to prevent it.

Is diarrhea common in the rainy season?

One of the most common questions that are asked is this. Yes, diarrhea is very common during the rainy season. Diarrhea is an intestine infection that can be very painful. The symptoms include fever, nausea, bloating, watery stools, blood in urine, severe abdominal cramps and more. There are various factors that can cause diarrhea in monsoon. However, the most common cause is consumption of contaminated food and water infected with germs. Coming to the diagnosis, you should concern your doctor as soon as possible and he will prescribe blood tests, urine tests and/or colonoscopy for him/her to understand your condition better. For treatment you would be given antibiotics and would be told to consume a lot of fluids.

How do you prevent Diarrhea?

Although some types of Diarrhea is unpreventable, contagious diarrhea can be prevented. But you need to know how it can be avoided. Following are some precautions that you should take to avoid diarrhea in rainy season.  

1. Drink only boiled or bottled water

This might seem like we are being paranoid but we feel it’s better to be safe than sorry. The thing is, drinking water is necessary especially during monsoon but it needs to be purified for your safety. We tend to drink less water during the monsoon because we don't feel thirsty but our body needs it. 

2. Personal hygiene is very important

If you are looking for ways to prevent yourself from getting infections then here is a smart one! Maintain personal hygiene and wash your hands properly before going close to food and eating anything to avoid contamination of your food and drinks and keep yourself safe.

3. Avoid street food at all costs

This is something that should not even be stated. It's an obvious one when it comes to tips to keep healthy. Avoid panipuri, bhel, pakodas, chaat papdi and all such things to keep yourself safe and avoid any chances of contamination and diarrhea.

4. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly

Another one of the tips to prevent diseases is to make sure that any fruits and vegetables you are consuming are fresh and unpreserved. For extra safety, soak them in Salt water (in 500 ml water add a teaspoon of salt) for 7 to 10 minutes. Then rinse with fresh water just before consumption.

What are the home remedies to cure Diarrhea?

Diarrhea often is your body's way of dealing with gastrointestinal problems. Acute diarrhea can last upto 1-2 weeks and can be caused by food poisoning, use of an antibiotic, or a bacterial infection. Infectious diarrhea however is caused by a virus and can be caused because of contaminated food and water or improperly cooked food. It can be very uncomfortable and if you are wondering why do I get diarrhea when it rains then the answer is because during the rainy season your immunity is low and your digestive system is weak. But don’t worry! There are some simple yet effective home remedies that can help you manage acute diarrhea and ease the symptoms in just a matter of time. 

1. Hydration

As much as it seems obvious we often tend to forget to drink water and cause dehydration. Staying hydrated is important for your body to be able to fight diarrhea. This disease creates a deficit of fluids in the body making it lose electrolytes and making the recovery a slow process. So, it's important to drink plenty of water. 

2. Probiotics

A source of 'good' bacteria that benefit the digestive tract and create a healthy gut environment, Probiotics can help fight off the infection. Probiotics essentially are live microorganisms- bacteria and yeast that are found in various sorts of yogurts and other fermented foods like Kefir, Kimchi, Miso and more.