Children often love the rainy season. Puddles, umbrellas and cooler temperatures can make monsoon days exciting.
At the same time, rainy weather can create conditions that favour mosquito breeding and the spread of some infections.
A few practical precautions can help families enjoy the season more safely.
1. Prevent Water From Collecting Around Your Home
Mosquitoes can breed in water collected in containers around homes.
Regularly check:
- Flower pots
- Buckets
- Coolers
- Trays
- Open containers
- Rooftops and balconies
- Discarded tyres
Empty or appropriately cover containers that can collect water.
Reducing mosquito breeding sites is an important part of controlling mosquito-borne illnesses. (World Health Organization)
2. Protect Children From Mosquito Bites
Use practical protective measures such as:
- Suitable clothing that covers more skin
- Window and door screens
- Mosquito nets where appropriate
- Child-appropriate mosquito repellents used according to instructions
WHO also recommends reducing mosquito exposure through protective clothing, approved repellents, nets and household barriers. (World Health Organization)
3. Pay Attention to Drinking Water
Use a safe drinking-water source and keep drinking-water containers clean and covered.
4. Focus on Food Hygiene
Wash fruits and vegetables appropriately and store cooked food safely.
Be particularly cautious with food that may have been stored improperly.
5. Keep Wet Clothes and Footwear Dry
Change children out of wet clothes when they return home.
Dry footwear properly and encourage children to wash their feet after playing outdoors.
6. Encourage Handwashing
Good hand hygiene remains one of the simplest habits to reinforce throughout the year.
When Should Parents Seek Medical Care?
Consult a paediatrician for persistent fever, repeated vomiting, unusual drowsiness, poor fluid intake, breathing difficulty, worsening weakness or other symptoms that concern you.
Don’t assume every monsoon fever is “just viral” or dengue. A medical assessment may be necessary to determine the cause.
At Child Care Hospital, our paediatric team is available to evaluate children with fever and other seasonal illnesses.
Medical Note: Symptoms of different infections can overlap. Diagnosis should be made by a qualified healthcare professional.