People are already under a lot of pressure in their daily lives, and now climate changes have added even more problems. After facing extreme heat for many months, our people are now having to deal with heavy rains and floods. Why does diarrhoea increase during flood seasons? During floods, drinking water sources can get polluted with sewage, human waste, and garbage. Because of this unsafe water, diarrhoea and similar illnesses become more common.
❓ What is Diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea means passing loose or watery stools three or more times a day. This illness spreads through bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Common causes include:
- Bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli
- Parasites like protozoa and Entamoeba histolytica
🤔 What are the symptoms?
- Passing watery or loose stools more than three times a day.
- Depending on the germ causing the infection, blood or mucus may sometimes be seen in the stool.
- Abdominal pain or cramps.
- Vomiting.
- High fever.
- Muscle aches.
- Feeling weak and tired.
⛺ Risks in Displacement Camps
If you are staying in a displacement or relief camp, many people are often crowded into a small space. In such situations, maintaining good hygiene becomes difficult, and the risk of germs entering the body is much higher.
If even one person develops diarrhoea, others staying in the camp are also at risk. This illness can spread very quickly, especially among young children.
🛡️ How to protect yourself from the disease
- Drink only safe water: Ensure water has not been contaminated by human waste. Always boil the water well and keep it boiling for at least 5 minutes before drinking.
- Wash hands thoroughly: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after using the toilet.
- Personal hygiene: Always follow good personal hygiene practices.
- Food safety: Foods that are eaten raw or not cooked should be washed several times with clean running water and cleaned properly before use.
Due to the current flood situation, there is a higher chance of getting diarrhoea. If you are staying in a relief camp, you will need to use shared sanitation facilities, and this increases the risk of catching the infection from an infected person. Therefore, it is very important to follow proper health and hygiene practices.
To learn more important health tips like these, stay connected with us Naturista Prana Sathkara.
