The combination of heavy rains, disorderly housing and insufficient water and sewerage installations can lead to massive flooding. In Brazil, tragedies caused by the mixture of the force of nature and human action on the environment have been part of the news for decades.
This summer, Petrópolis, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, experienced the biggest natural disaster in the city. According to data from the Fire Department, at least 182 people lost their lives after the strong storms recorded on February 15th.
In addition to the direct risks to the lives of populations, due to the great force of the waters and landslides, flooding can also bring a trail of diseases.
When talking about floods, leptospirosis is the first disease that comes to mind. However, the list is even longer including diphtheria, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, giardiasis, amoebiasis, diarrheal gastroenteritis and schistosomiasis.
Learn about the main health risks associated with flooding and learn how to protect yourself:
Vaccines protect against rain diseases
Floods favor the transmission of diseases acquired through contact with contaminated water or food or between individuals, especially in crowded environments, such as shelters.
Illnesses such as rotavirus diarrhea, influenza, meningitis, rubella, and tetanus can be prevented by vaccination.
Tetanus
Tetanus can be contracted in accidents with rubble, mainly during cleaning of the environment and in the reconstruction of houses affected by the rains. To avoid contagion, it is necessary to protect hands, arms, feet and legs with gloves and boots when handling rubbish.
The vaccine is the main form of prevention, being applied in three doses, with a booster every five or ten years. In addition, anti-tetanus serum may be indicated in some situations for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Symptoms include muscle stiffness throughout the body, difficulty opening the mouth and swallowing, involuntary convulsive laughter produced by spasms of the muscles of the face. Treatment can be done with the use of antibiotics, muscle relaxants, sedatives or tetanus immunoglobulin.
leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria transmitted by contact with water or mud contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rats.
With the filling of rivers and streams, the sewage network can overflow, causing the water to reach rat holes, such as galleries, dumps and vacant lots. Floods take contaminated water to the streets, increasing the risk of contagion.
Transmission occurs through contact with the skin, mucous membranes or ingestion of contaminated food and liquids. In addition to avoiding contact with flood water, prevention includes cleaning environments and clothes wet by potentially contaminated water.
The most frequent symptoms are fever, headache and body ache, especially in the calves. Some people may experience vomiting, diarrhea and coughing. In the most severe forms, there may be jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Other diseases caused by contaminated water
Contaminated water can contain a large number of microorganisms that cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, giardiasis, amoebiasis, diarrheal gastroenteritis and schistosomiasis. The most common symptoms of most of these diseases are fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
In the absence of water from the local supply network, the Ministry of Health recommends filtering and disinfecting available water with sodium hypochlorite solution (two drops of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite per liter of water) and consume after 30 minutes. Another procedure is to filter and boil the water for 5 minutes.
The main prevention measures include avoiding contact with contaminated water and mud, among other actions such as:
- Take only treated water from the local supply network
- Properly clean the water tank every six months
- Prepare food with its own water that is within the potability standard
- Wash hands before handling food and meals, and after going to the bathroom
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A contamination occurs through the fecal-oral route, that is, through contact between individuals or through contaminated water or food, especially in the context of rainfall. Therefore, the disease usually spreads in regions with precarious or non-existent water and sewage treatment conditions.
The main forms of prevention are the improvement of the basic sanitation network and the adoption of hygiene habits, such as regular washing of hands and food consumed raw, in addition to cleaning dishes, glasses and cutlery.
The infection is not always symptomatic, but patients may experience tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, in addition to presenting yellowish skin and eyes, dark urine and pale stools. Symptoms usually appear between two and six weeks and last for less than two months.
Vaccination is recommended for people over one year old, in a two-dose schedule, with an interval of six months. The immunizing agent against hepatitis A is not widely available to the population, being offered by the SUS to children between 15 months and 5 years of age at Basic Health Units (UBS).
The risks of respiratory diseases
The destruction of the homes of countless families due to floods and landslides means that people have to live with relatives and friends or in public shelters. The agglomeration favors the transmission of respiratory diseases, such as Covid-19 and the common flu.
Transmission occurs between people, through contact with contaminated saliva and respiratory secretions during coughing or sneezing.
As a prevention, the measures recommended since the beginning of the pandemic are valid: use of a mask, hand hygiene with soap and water, use of alcohol gel, keeping spaces ventilated, maintaining distance whenever possible, and adherence to vaccination against Covid-19. 19 and the flu.
Accidents with venomous animals
Natural events such as heavy rains can lead to the appearance of venomous animals such as snakes, scorpions and spiders. Specialists recommend seeking to know which health services close to the residence offer the application of serums in the case of accidents with venomous animals.
In the event of an accident, it is necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible and avoid any type of intervention such as the use of a tourniquet, sucking the wound or applying substances on the spot on your own.
Prevention includes cleaning domestic environments, such as backyards, and shaking clothes and shoes before use.
diseases caused by Aedes aegypti
Although diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti are not directly associated with heavy rains, the accumulation of standing water can favor the proliferation of the mosquito.
Insect eggs can stay in dry environments for more than a year. With the accumulation of water, they find the right environment to continue their life cycle, which also includes the larval, pupal and adult mosquito stages.
“The accumulation of this water creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of these vectors and the outbreak of diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya”, says researcher Nelzair Vianna, from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Bahia.
Discover the main breeding sites of Aedes aegypti
The occurrence of a flood and landslides is usually related to a traumatic event involving the loss of material goods and loved ones. In addition to the physical health impacts, incidents can bring serious suffering and significantly affect the quality of life of individuals.
“People tend to get sick more, not only physically but emotionally. The cases of depression, anxiety and panic caused by the post-traumatic situation are very serious and have to be treated with the same seriousness as all clinical diseases”, says doctor Roberta França.
Identifying signs that mental health is not going well and seeking specialized help can help prevent and treat these conditions. Since the beginning of the tragedy in Petrópolis, doctor Julia Morelli Rosas, director of the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine (SBMFC), has been working with the population.
“We did a job of welcoming people who were receiving the news both from their homes and from their relatives and friends who had suffered directly from the landslide and flood. We made a reception to calm down, to try to give a little comfort and security at that moment, ”she said.
Source: CNN Brasil
