Medical news September 12: Diseases to watch out for during the rainy and flood season
According to the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, after storms and floods, many microorganisms and wastes flow with the water, polluting the environment and posing a potential risk of disease.
Warning of diseases to be guarded against during the rainy season
This is a favorable condition for bacteria, viruses and disease vectors to multiply, causing epidemics in humans such as: dengue fever, malaria, gastrointestinal diseases, flu, pink eye...
 |
| After storms and floods, many microorganisms and waste flow with the water, polluting the environment and posing a potential risk of disease. |
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Response Center, said that people in areas affected by rain and floods are susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases due to unsafe water sources, food, and hygiene conditions.
In addition, foot rot or other skin diseases, colds, flu, and sore eyes are also common problems. In addition, humid environments and stagnant water in objects such as tires, bottles, pots, jars, etc. are also favorable conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Dengue fever is very contagious and easy to break out. The annual rainy season is also the peak of dengue fever in many places.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Director in charge of the Hanoi Department of Health, the city's health sector has established mobile emergency teams with full medicine and equipment, ready to respond to possible situations.
The Department of Health directed units to investigate and make a list of areas at risk of flooding to develop plans to prevent and control epidemics, ensure clean water, environmental sanitation, and food safety.
In addition, prepare a stock of medicine to treat common diseases after floods and chemicals (Chloramine B, alum, etc.) to treat water sources and the environment.
In Ho Chi Minh City in recent days, the lives of people in many areas have been disrupted by heavy rains causing flooding. People have had to brave the rain and use their vehicles to swim through high tides and overflowing sewers.
According to information from Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, recently, the hospital has received more people coming to examine and treat skin diseases than before.
Common skin diseases caused by being drenched in the rain or wading in floodwater include scabies, skin fungus, allergic contact dermatitis and folliculitis. In addition to rainwater, rising tides will also bring sewage and domestic wastewater. If it comes into contact with the skin, it will create conditions for skin diseases to develop. Usually, bacterial and fungal infections are limited to the skin.
However, in some cases, if not properly cared for, it can lead to widespread infection throughout the body. Many people subjectively think that skin diseases are common diseases, so they buy oral and topical medications on their own. However, applying or taking the wrong medication can cause the lesions to spread, making treatment difficult.
Dermatologists note that to prevent scabies and skin fungus after contact with dirty water, people should wash immediately with clean water, paying special attention to cleaning the areas between the toes and fingers - places where water and dirt easily accumulate. It is necessary to ensure that the area is washed and dried completely, avoiding damp conditions that create conditions for bacteria to grow.
In addition, items such as shoes, socks, and clothes should not be used when they are still damp. All these items should be dried in the sun or dried completely before use, and be careful to limit long-term contact with water. If you have to travel in the rain or through flooded roads, you should prepare raincoats, waterproof shoes, boots, and gloves to protect your body.
In particular, when unusual signs appear on the skin, people should go to the hospital for examination and timely treatment. Hesitation can cause the disease to progress more severely, leading to damage, infection, and even skin necrosis.
People should not arbitrarily use oral or topical medications or apply folk remedies at home without the guidance of a medical professional.
The Department of Preventive Medicine also issued a warning to people to know how to protect their health during the rainy season to prevent dangerous diseases.
To prevent the disease, you need to take the following measures: Wash your hands regularly with soap to prevent bacteria and viruses from attacking your body; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth because these are areas that are susceptible to infection. Instead, use a clean towel to wipe away sweat and use saline to drop into your eyes.
Eat cooked food and drink boiled water, avoid unsanitary food, and increase vitamin intake, especially C and E, from fruits and vegetables to improve the immune system.
Drink enough water to help your body eliminate bacteria and prevent colds. Prevent mosquitoes and insects, keep your house clean and dry, use mosquito repellent and avoid stagnant water.
Avoid flooded areas, limit contact with dirty water that can cause skin diseases or diarrhea. Especially when it rains, find shelter, avoid dangerous places such as tree roots, electric poles...
Ministry of Health guides on how to treat clean water for use after floods
After floods, in areas affected by natural disasters, water sources are often dirty and polluted due to waste from sewers, mud, dead animals... mixed into river water, streams, ponds and lakes.
In flooded areas, water sources, water supply and drainage works, and sanitation works are destroyed, making the shortage of clean water for daily use even more serious.
Contaminated water sources create conditions for bacteria, viruses and parasites to grow and develop, leading to the spread of pathogens.
Common diseases include skin diseases (itching, pimples, athlete's foot, athlete's foot, scabies, dermatitis, folliculitis, etc.), intestinal and digestive diseases (diarrhea, cholera, typhoid), eye diseases (pink eye, trachoma), gynecological diseases due to bathing in dirty water, etc.
To have a safe source of water for daily use after floods, ensure health and prevent diseases, you can use the following simple water cleaning measures to clarify and disinfect water.
Avoid the food hoarding mentality
In an official dispatch sent to localities on strengthening food safety, preventing food poisoning, and overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) encouraged people to use ready-to-eat, ready-to-eat foods such as dry food, instant noodles, bottled water... in areas affected by flooding and landslides that have caused isolation.
The Ministry of Health also requested the Food Safety Departments of provinces and cities to propagate and guide people in choosing, processing and using safe food.
Absolutely do not use dead livestock or poultry as food or food processing. In case water sources such as wells or open wells are flooded, they must be filtered and disinfected before use according to the instructions of the health sector.
According to health experts, during the rainy and flood season, due to unusual changes in weather, it creates favorable conditions for pathogenic microorganisms to develop, especially on food if not properly preserved. Flooded farming and livestock areas lead to crushed, damaged, and contaminated vegetables, tubers, and fruits; infected livestock and poultry, which can lead to the risk of food poisoning when consumed.
Meanwhile, some people take advantage of the rainy season and consumer psychology to mix and sell unsafe foods, foods of unknown origin, fake foods, and expired foods.
Faced with the psychology of people rushing to buy a lot of food, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that people stay calm, stock up on food and enough necessities, and not stockpile more than necessary.
Currently, the supply of goods and prices of basic essential goods are basically stable, with no major price changes, except for some green vegetables which have slightly increased in price due to difficulty in preservation.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-129-nhung-benh-dich-can-de-phong-mua-mua-lu-d224705.html
Comment (0)