Floods and incessant rains have led to the spread of various contagious diseases in Kerala. Some of these ailments like normal fever are not dangerous and may subside in 3-4 days. However, fever is also a symptom of deadly diseases like dengue, rat fever, malaria and typhoid. Patients suffering from these conditions are crowding hospitals across the state.
To save yourself from any extreme situation, keep in mind the following information:
Dengue fever
If fever persists even after three days, it could be dengue. If symptoms like severe body pain, redness and swelling in the eyes and aching in the hands and legs are seen, seek immediate medical attention.
As dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes, eliminate all conditions favourable for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes can breed even in a drop of water. So, ensure that water doesn't stagnate anywhere in the surroundings. Apply kerosene or petrol over the accumulated water to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.
Mosquito nets and other means for protection from mosquito bites can also be adopted.
Malaria
If shivering occurs along with fever, malaria can be suspected. The symptoms of malaria are shivering followed by sweating and fever.
To protect yourself from malaria, adopt measures to avoid mosquito bites. In addition, prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
Rat fever
If the symptoms of the illness are body pain, fever, aching of the limbs and difficulty to pass urine, you may be suffering from rat fever, also known as leptospirosis.
The disease spreads through water which has the presence of the urine of rats. To protect yourself from leptospirosis, avoid contact with polluted water as far as possible. People who work in wet fields and farms, workers under the Employment Guarantee Scheme engaged in manual labour etc. need to take special care.
Typhoid
The main symptom of typhoid is fever. Consult a doctor even if you have only fever to keep yourself safe from this disease.
Typhoid spreads through water and so keep yourself away from dirty water, if possible. Make sure that food items are prepared using clean water.
