The rainy season in the Philippines is usually from June to November, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Ideally, this means we should start preparing for this season before summer ends around May.
Apart from rain-proofing your home, also watch out for diseases such as the common cold and flu that might hit your household at this time of the year. To help you prepare for and stay healthy in the rainy season, we rounded up some common rainy-day diseases, the symptoms to look out for, and how to prevent them.
1. Dengue
Dengue is endemic not only in the Philippines but also in over 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This fast-spreading, mosquito-borne disease infects an estimated 400 million people and causes 21,000 deaths annually.
An increase in dengue cases is expected in the country during the rainy season. While there’s no specific treatment for dengue, global and local health organizations, including the WHO, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), and the Department of Health (DOH), remind the public about the importance of early detection and prevention to help reduce the spread of this disease.
The PRC and DOH continue to advocate practicing healthy habits, such as having a balanced diet and active lifestyle, combined with the 4-S strategy below to help prevent dengue:
- Search and destroy. Cover or remove water in containers that are not needed anymore in and out of your home. Be sure to dispose of empty jars, bottles, cans, and every other item that can collect water outdoors, and always rid gutters of leaves and debris.
- Self-protection measures. Wear pajamas or pants and long-sleeved shirts at night, especially in open-air areas.
- Seek early consultation. The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following: body aches and pains, nausea or vomiting, and rashes. If symptoms persist after two days, consult your physician immediately.
- Say yes to fogging. Do so when there’s an impending outbreak or hotspot in your area.
2. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by exposure to the urine or body fluids of infected animals, especially rats, which can be found in contaminated water (including floodwater), soil, and vegetation. If you or a family member has been directly exposed to floodwater, or worse, ingested it, watch out for the following signs and symptoms that might appear after two days to four weeks:
- High fever
- Muscle and abdominal pains
- Headache
- Yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice)
- Red eyes
- Dark-colored urine
- Diarrhea and light-colored stools
Prevention tips include wearing water-repellent boots and other protective clothing when wading through a puddle or floodwater, avoiding direct contact with floodwater, and keeping your house clean and free from pests and rats.
If left untreated, leptospirosis can lead to kidney- and liver-related diseases, respiratory distress, and even death, so be sure to consult your doctor if symptoms persist.
3. Food- and water-borne diseases
Food- and water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, and cholera are also common during the rainy season. According to the DOH, the key to preventing them is to drink water only from safe sources. If unsure, you may boil water for three minutes before drinking it. Find out more about these diseases and how you can keep them at bay:
- Diarrhea. It is caused by various bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms that contaminate food and water, which leads to an infection in the digestive system. Common symptoms include watery stools, stomach cramps or pains, fever, nausea or vomiting, and dizziness from dehydration.
- Typhoid fever. This highly infectious seasonal disease can spread through food and water contamination or direct or close contact with an infected person. Symptoms to look out for include high fever, lethargy, constipation, stomach cramps or pains, headaches, and nausea or vomiting.
- Cholera. Like diarrhea and typhoid fever, you can get infected by cholera by consuming contaminated food and water. Poor hygiene and sanitation contribute as well. The only difference between them, however, is cholera is a fatal disease that needs immediate medical treatment once the symptoms show. Its signs and symptoms include watery diarrhea, excessive thirst, dry mouth due to dehydration, vomiting, leg cramps, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
Diseases like these can still strike when we least expect them. Depending on their severity, treating them could lead to high medical expenses. This is why we should plan for our financial preparedness. For example, consider getting a health insurance plan that can cover the expenses of treating an illness.
Know you can game plan your way to ensuring your safety and protection all year round by availing of any of AXA’s health insurance plans. For more information, talk to an AXA Financial advisor today.
