00:00The monsoon is here and it's not just the weather that is changing.
00:06With the rains come viruses, infections and a whole new set of health concerns.
00:11Red irritated eyes, fever and flu, the growing body around H1N1.
00:16And when contaminated food and water enter the picture, your gut could be the next casualty.
00:23So how prepared are you for the monsoon health season?
00:26Should you be thinking about a flu vaccine?
00:28How do you protect yourself from high flu?
00:31And what can you do to keep your tummy healthy while infectious diseases are all around?
00:38So today, let's bring in our monsoon health playbook.
00:43What to watch out for, what to prevent and when a seasonal illness needs medical attention.
00:49And India is seeing increased H1N1 seasonal influenza activity.
00:53Particularly in Delhi and some other cities during the monsoon.
00:57But it is important to distinguish a rise in cases from a nationwide outbreak.
01:03What's really happening now?
01:05Delhi, we know, is the clearest current hotspot.
01:08The National Center for Disease Control data cited reports that indicate Delhi having about H1N1 reported cases as of the
01:181st and the 2nd week of August.
01:20Compared with 229 during the same period last year.
01:24Which means there is a six-fold increase.
01:27Doctors are reporting more patients with fever, coughs, sore throat, body ache and fatigue.
01:33Influenza infections are mild but some can progress through pneumonia or respiratory complications.
01:38Now, Bengaluru has seen a significant flu-like illness.
01:41At Clarence High School, more than 500 students and 21 staff members have flu-like symptoms.
01:47The school is closed down for the time being.
01:52H1N1 is a seasonal influenza virus.
01:56Rather than the pandemic virus, it was way back in 2009.
02:01Influenza transmission can increase during particular season conditions and that is what we are seeing.
02:06So, we are bringing in our experts right here.
02:09Dr. Suranji Chatterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprasth Apollo Hospital in Delhi with us.
02:16Thank you so much for your time.
02:18Doctor, how do you distinguish Dr. H1N1 from an ordinary viral fever?
02:24Like most of the viral respiratory diseases would behave in the same way.
02:28They will have fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache as a symptom.
02:34So, it's difficult to differentiate between them.
02:37So, you go by the number of cases that is happening in your area.
02:40If like swine flu cases, numbers are high or COVID numbers are high,
02:44then you start suspecting these cases and investigating for them.
02:48Because symptom-wise, mostly they will have cough, sore throat, fever, headache and body ache.
02:56Is it time to get the flu vaccine now?
02:59Because most people don't take it, Doctor.
03:00And who should be taking it?
03:01For sure, people should take the flu vaccination
03:04because it does cover against the influenza viruses.
03:07It is an ideal thing to do.
03:09And one of the reasons why I think the numbers are higher
03:12is because our influenza or the flu vaccine coverage is poorer.
03:17So, if we increase the percentage of vaccination
03:20and more people get vaccinated,
03:22it is possible that the number of swine flu cases might reduce
03:26or at least the severity and intensity of the infection might reduce.
03:31The big question, when does this fever or cough require testing or even hospitalization?
03:40Since almost large numbers of people are suffering from swine flu
03:44and or a few people are also suffering from COVID in Delhi right now.
03:49So, with cough, fever, headache, body ache as symptoms,
03:53it's not a bad idea that if the symptoms persist,
03:56you get checked by your doctor and maybe investigated.
04:00Because then you know how it is going to behave in the next couple of days.
04:04And also, the antiviral medication, Oseltamivir,
04:09if it is given early, it has had some benefit in whosoever you're using.
04:13But if it is given late, it doesn't make much sense.
04:16So, it's not a bad idea that if there is a suspicion
04:19by your treating physician or pediatrician
04:22that there could be swine flu, it could be tested
04:24and it can be treated accordingly in the vulnerable age group.
04:29Dr. Sanjay K. Jain is a pediatrician with the McCure Hospital
04:34and I'm going to welcome him also to this broadcast.
04:37Dr. What's your take on this?
04:39The sharp increase in H1N1 cases that we are seeing this year.
04:43Why is this happening?
04:44So, flu coaches usually increases when the weather is changing
04:48and people are also spending more time in crowded places
04:50like in schools, offices, malls, transport.
04:53So, the infection is spread from one to other person.
04:56And also nowadays, people are more aware
04:59and testing is more common.
05:00So, we are picking up more cases.
05:02But we should remember that every fever and cough is not an H1N1.
05:06Many other viral infections can also give similar kind of symptoms.
05:09And who then is most vulnerable to severe disease here?
05:13Basically, we should be more careful with the small children,
05:16elderly people and the pregnant women.
05:18People with asthma, other diseases like diabetes, hypertension,
05:23heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease.
05:25We community, they're also at the higher risk.
05:28So, for those patients, it's better to consult a doctor early
05:31rather than waiting for the condition to become serious.
05:34Doctor, can H1N1 and dengue occur together?
05:38And how can people really tell them apart?
05:41So, yes, both dengue and flu can cause fever,
05:44headache, weakness and body ache.
05:46So, sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart.
05:49In flu, we usually see more cough, soreness, sore throat,
05:53cold-like symptoms.
05:54But in dengue, it's more of generalized symptoms,
05:56like a severe body pain, headache, pain behind the eyes,
06:00vomiting, stomach pain, the rashes and sometimes bleeding also.
06:03If the fever is continuous or the patient is growing worsen,
06:07the blood test may be redid.
06:08And one more important thing is there,
06:10if dengue is suspected,
06:11do not take aspirin or ibuprofen by your own
06:14because that can increase the risk of bleeding also.
06:19Shifting focus now,
06:20and as the monsoon sets in,
06:22iFlu is also making its presence felt.
06:25Red watery-irated eyes may seem like a minor seasonal nuisance,
06:29but conjunctivitis can spread very quickly.
06:32So, what are the warning signs and how contagious is this?
06:35What should you do if you catch it?
06:38Here's more.
06:44Ranbir Kapoor recently suffered from conjunctivitis,
06:47also known as the pink eye,
06:49ahead of a swim launch,
06:51drawing attention to an eye infection
06:53that actually becomes more common
06:55during the monsoon season.
06:57The rainy season actually creates idle conditions
07:00of viruses and bacteria to thrive,
07:02while increased humidity, stagnant water,
07:05poor hand hygiene and frequent eye rubbing
07:08make it easier for infections to spread.
07:11According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology,
07:15viral and bacterial conjunctivitis
07:17are highly contagious,
07:19making outbreaks more common during the season
07:22when infections spread rapidly.
07:24Red eyes, itching, swelling and constant watering,
07:27many people are waking up with these symptoms
07:29during the monsoon season.
07:31Doctors say this is the eye flu.
07:34It increases during the rainy season
07:36because humidity, water contamination
07:38and close contact make it easier
07:40for all viruses to spread,
07:43this being no different.
07:45It may start with just mild irritation.
07:48Within us, eyes can become red swollen,
07:50things can get uncomfortable.
07:52So, I bring in our eye doctor today.
07:55Dr. Purendra Basin is with us.
07:57Doctor, why do eye flu cases increase during this season?
08:01Eye flu is the kind of infection
08:04which is present during this wet and humid weather
08:08and viruses, they propagate during this weather.
08:11And if someone is carrying or harboring the infection,
08:15it is very common that others can also catch it very fast.
08:19So, it is very, very contagious
08:21and this weather is very favorable for the viruses to grow.
08:27So, the infection usually affects the outer layer of the eye
08:31causing inflammation known as conjunctivitis.
08:33Dr. Basin, how can people differentiate between normal eye irritation
08:38and an infection that needs medical attention?
08:41At the end of the day, it's our eye, isn't it?
08:44Eye flu, the sign and symptoms are very different.
08:47The eye becomes red and there is a swelling,
08:52there is a lot of grittiness, watering is there from the eye
08:55and some discharge might also come
08:58and you may find that there is a blurring of vision
09:01and a person becomes very uncomfortable because of this eye flu.
09:05Doctor, tell us what the warning signs of this could be,
09:09of conjunctivitis could be.
09:11A warning sign will be that you will find,
09:13initially you will find some discomfort in the eye
09:16and some pinkishness or development of redness in the eye
09:21and grittiness in foreign bodies.
09:23So, when the vessels start engorging and thickening of the vessels is there.
09:29Secondly, you will find that there is some discharges also coming along with.
09:35One of the biggest mistakes, doctor, that people make is rubbing
09:38or touching their eyes again and again
09:41and that only worsens things, isn't it?
09:43If you rub your eye, which is already,
09:47your hand is already contaminated from touching the surface
09:51or the handles or anything.
09:54So, you can bring that infection and leave it into your eye.
09:59So, it's better not to rub your eyes.
10:02I also want to ask you, eye drops are available in the market.
10:06Many people are quick to buy it over the counter and use it
10:09but that really isn't the best thing to do.
10:11Unless until you have got it checked by an ophthalmologist,
10:14you should not use it.
10:15I will not suggest.
10:16Maybe some lubricant drop you can use safely.
10:20That is possible.
10:22But one should avoid using the over-the-counter drops
10:26and over-the-counter or the drops which are casually present at home
10:31due to some reason.
10:32So, here's what you need to know.
10:35Most cases improve with proper care
10:37but prevention remains the best protection.
10:40Now, during the monsoon, keeping your hands clean
10:42never underestimate the power of washing your hands again and again
10:47and avoiding close contact with someone
10:49who has an active eye infection can reduce your risk.
10:55So, from the eyes to focus on your tummy.
10:58Monsoon, as we know, is the perfect time for your tummy to get upset.
11:02And here is the science behind why certain food items should be avoided.
11:07Absolutely not taken during this time.
11:10Here really is the entire list of the food items
11:13that you must not be consuming for various reasons
11:16during the monsoon season
11:18because the fear of bacterial contamination is extremely high.
11:23So, I bring in our gut health expert here
11:26to tell us a little about doctor
11:29the foods to avoid, foods to limit
11:32and not take during the monsoon season.
11:35What would that be and why?
11:37Tell us more.
11:38See, during monsoon, what happens is that
11:41the humidity level goes up.
11:44So, there is a contamination of the food particles
11:50and also because of the monsoon,
11:53there is the food articles, waterborne diseases,
11:56they increase.
11:58Try to eat food which is, you know, prepared fresh at your home
12:01and avoid food eating outside.
12:04Which are the foods, doctor, that help boost immunity
12:07and are there such foods at all
12:09that naturally support, you know,
12:11your gut health during the monsoon season, doctor?
12:15See, the food items like citrus fruits
12:21or for that matter, any fruits you take,
12:26they are high in antioxidants
12:29and you should consume a lot of citrus foods
12:35and overall whole fruits
12:37and you can also eat ginger, garlic, which, you know,
12:42and turmeric, which has high antimicrobial activity.
12:46Generally, curd or buttermilk, they have,
12:50or yogurt, they have high amount of probiotics.
12:56Those are the good bacterias.
12:59If you consume these products on regular basis,
13:03they will boost up your gut immunity and gut health.
13:08Here is what you must know
13:10and this really is a monsoon tip for you.
13:13Well, food hygiene is just as important
13:14as the food itself.
13:17You must choose freshly cooked,
13:19thoroughly washed and properly stored foods
13:22during this time wherein
13:23the risk of contamination is actually the highest.
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