Typhoid dubbed as “pani puri” disease
With the arrival of monsoon, typhoid cases have spiked in Telangana and health officials are blaming the beloved street food ‘pani puri’ for the rise in the number of reported cases. During May, 2,700 cases were typhoid cases reported in Telangana and this number stood at 2,752 cases during June.
Dr G Srinivasa Rao, director of public health, has referred to typhoid as "pani puri disease". The government is advising people to avoid street food, especially pani puri, during monsoon. Dr Rao also said that vendors should ensure hygiene and use only safe drinking water.
Contaminated water, food, and mosquitoes are the main causes for seasonal monsoon-related diseases such as malaria, acute diarrheal diseases (ADDs), and viral fevers reported in the past few weeks. Telangana has registered more than 6,000 cases of diarrheal disease and is also seeing an upward trend in dengue cases.
Typhoid symptoms
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, from defiled food or water. At an early stage, typhoid symptoms include prolonged high fever, severe pain in the stomach, headache, diarrhoea or constipation and reduced appetite.
If not treated immediately, the symptoms can worsen and lead to fatigue, pale skin, vomiting blood and even internal bleeding.
Monsoon-related diseases
It’s been only a few weeks of monsoon in India, and there has been a spike in a plethora of water-borne and food-borne infections such as typhoid and jaundice. The contaminated food or water contains disease-causing bacteria, viruses or other pathogens. Apart from these, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria also increases during this time. Here are some important steps to prevent yourself from these diseases.
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Ensure personal hygiene
The very basics of hygiene should be followed by all members of the family. Wash your hands before eating food and after using the restroom. Also make sure you wash your hands regularly, such as after coming back to home from outside. Cover your mouth if you have to cough or sneeze and avoid touching your nose or eyes in general.
Drink clean and safe water
Make sure you are drinking purified water only or boil the water before drinking it. If you are drinking packaged water, make sure it is from a reliable brand. When outdoors, prefer safe bottled water if you are unsure of the quality of the water served at that place. Impure water can easily upset your stomach and lead to diarrhea.
Avoid street food
Yes, with monsoon you would be tempted to eat pani puri and other street foods, but you should avoid them for your health. A seemingly healthy cuppa tea from your favourite chaiwala may not be healthy after all, if they are using water which is not purified. You can satisfy your monsoon cravings by preparing your favourite dishes at home using fresh vegetables and purified water. Wash your hands before cooking and use clean utensils. Also, eat plenty of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and nuts to boost your immunity during the rainy season.
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Maintain a mosquito-free environment
At home, ensure you shut all windows and doors in the evening, to avoid any mosquitoes. You can also apply mosquito-repellent cream before sleeping or while going out in the evening. Try to wear clothes which cover your legs and arms. Make sure water is not getting collected anywhere in your house as it can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.