Every time it rains, it floods. If you are faced with such frequent flooding, you should be aware that you are at risk of many dangerous diseases.
Respiratory Diseases
The respiratory diseases include common cold, influenza, and pneumonia.
Significant Symptoms
- Coughing
- Stuffy nose
- Nasal mucus
- Headache
- Body aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Prevention
- Keep the body warm.
- Avoid wearing wet clothes.
- Wipe the body dry.
- Avoid remaining in floodwater for an extended period.
- Avoid close contact with a person who has a cold.
- Cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands regularly with soap and clean water.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
These include diarrhea, food poisoning, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis.
Significant Symptoms
- Diarrhea or watery stool sometimes mixed with blood
- Stomach pain
- Nauseous
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Feverish
- Body aches and pains
- Loss of appetite
- Yellow skin
- Yellow eyes
Prevention
- Consume only clean cooked food or canned food that has not expired in a rust-free container that is not swollen.
- Drink clean water – such as sealed bottled or boiled water.
- Wash hands with soap and clean water before eating and after using the toilet.
- Do not defecate directly into the floodwater. If the toilet is not functioning, any bodily discharge must be placed in a plastic bag which is tightly sealed before being put in trash.
Leptospirosis
Significant Symptoms
- Sudden high fever
- Headache
- Severe muscles pains – especially around the thighs and calves, or back pain
- Skin rashes with seeping blood
- Coughing blood
- Yellow skin
- Yellow eyes
- Diminutive urine
- Lethargic
- Confused
Prevention
- Avoid wading the floodwater or mud.
- Keep any open wound from the floodwater. Wearing rubber boots are recommended.
- If it is necessary to wade the floodwater or mud, immediately wash feet with clean water and soap afterwards; and dry the feet as soon as possible
Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)
Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot
- Ulcers or sores with pus
- Itching between the toes
- Peeling or cracked skin
- Rashes and blisters
- Reddish swollen inflamed skin
Prevention
- Avoid wading the floodwater or mud.
- Keep any open wound from the floodwater. Wearing rubber boots are recommended.
- If it is necessary to wade the floodwater or mud, immediately wash feet with clean water and soap afterwards; and dry the feet as soon as possible.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Significant Symptoms
- Redness in one or both eyes
- Itchiness in one or both eyes
- Tearing
- Sensitive to light
- Excessive eye discharge
- Swollen eyelid in one or both eyes
Prevention
- Wash the eye immediately if dust or unclean water gets into it.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes with dirty hand. Keep insects away from the eyes.
- Keep people who already have conjunctivitis away from others.
- Do not share objects, to prevent the disease propagation.
Dengue Fever
Significant Symptoms
- Persistent high fever
- Headache
- Body aches and pains
- Reddish face
- Skin rashes with seeping blood
- Bleeding from the gums
Prevention
- Avoid being bitten by mosquitos during the day.
- Sleep under a sleeping net.
- Apply mosquito repellant.
- Dispose of mosquito larvae and their breeding locations by covering or keeping liquid containers drained.
Accidents and Getting Bitten or Stung by Poisonous Creatures
Apart from may diseases, there are other hazards that come with the floods – such as
- Accidental electrocution
- Drowning
- Stepping on sharp objects
Also, some poisonous creatures are known to come with the flooding – such as
- Snakes
- Centipedes
- Scorpions
They usually try to escape the flooding and come hide in people’s homes.
Prevention
- Unplug electrical appliances and turn off all breakers before floodwater reaches the house.
- Regularly remove trash and exposed sharp objects from inside the house and along pathways.
If you have any question or any of the above symptom, please contact your local doctor.
