Impact of Monsoon on the Pattern of Infectious Diseases in the Indian Setting-A Review

Abstract

The survival of life on earth depends on equilibrium between the organisms and the environment. The monsoon is a seasonal variation prevailing in the Indian sub-continent. Monsoon has two seasons which are separated by a transition. The infectious diseases epidemiology is affected by both climatic and societal influences. An interaction of climatic and societal influence favours the infectious disease exposure in a population. The infectious diseases affecting the population can be broadly classified as vector borne diseases, food borne diseases, water borne diseases, and respiratory diseases. The rainfall associated change in temperature and floods favours the survival of infectious diseases and their transmitting vectors. The changing global climatic trends including the EL nino Southern oscillation bring undue rainfall during other seasons. The drastic events associated with these climatic changes affect the heath and sanitation infrastructure. India being a developing country has more vulnerability to such infections. A better strengthening of the infrastructure and health policies is the need of the hour to curb the infections.