rickdias: Hi, my uncle has a bath in dettol water everytime he comes back from a walk outside. he thinks this will protect him from malaria. is that true?

DrShrivastav: Specifically from malaria, no. It would certainly boost his overall hygiene, but no recommendations towards malaria particularly.

Manisha: How does one take precautions against virals spreading during the monsoons?

DrShrivastav: If you feel you are in the company of an infected person, or you feel you are infected yourself, minimising personal contact for the duration of illness is most likely to be effective. Hand hygiene, prevention of droplet spread, adequate hydration, pain relief and rest are the most effective measures.

rickdias: Is it true that the malaria epidemic this year is worse than before or is it just the media making it seem worse?

DrShrivastav: It's certainly worse this year, doesn’t appear to be resolving anytime soon - media has been responsibly reporting, by and large.

Manisha: The spread of malaria is quite rampant these days, so what precautionary steps can one take?

DrShrivastav: Avoid storing water at home or your premises (office, building compound, society) If you live in the vicinity of construction sites you need to be particularly cautious and aware. Make sure you address your symptoms earlier rather than later. Do not self medicate or seek opinion of your pharmacist, over the counter quick relief. Do remember, absence of symptoms is not absence of disease. Speak to your doctor earlier rather than later.

Delia: Hi Dr, are people with allergies at a greater risk for catching a cold or the flu?

DrShrivastav: Yes they are: their immune system responds slightly differently to people without allergies, but on the whole the response time to resolution of illness is approximately the same.

Manisha: It is been said that there maybe another bout of swine flu. Is that true and is there any vaccination available for it?

DrShrivastav: We're certainly in the middle of the second wave of the H1N1 event; is another one likely? In all probability, yes, but impossible to give a timeframe, duration, or quantum of severity. There are two vaccines available, an injectable one and a nasal inhaler.

rickdias: I wake up every morning with a runny nose and sneezing but it disappears during the day. Do I need to see a doctor or is it ok?

DrShrivastav: if it is a few days you could ignore it, but if you seem to be getting these episodes regularly, your doctor should evaluate why this happens.

Manisha: I have just recovered from a viral, is it possible that it could reoccur again?

DrShrivastav: Yes, but if you are prone to several such episodes in a year, do speak to your doctor.

Delia: What do I need to do to avoid a typhoid infection?

DrShrivastav: The commonest sources are contaminated food and water, including ice and apparently clean uncooked food (fruits, salads). Before you cook any food, washing with granules of potassium permanganate is a great measure to rid food of large numbers of bus\gs and parasite. If you eat out regularly, make sure that the standard of hygiene and cooking is acceptable. Stale, partially cooked food and contaminated water are some of the best carriers of salmonella, the bug that causes typhoid.

Manisha: A friend of mine has a fungal skin infection. Is this contagious?

DrShrivastav: It depends upon what kind of fungal infection, and where. Some fungi like Tinea can be passed from person to person in showers and such places, some moulds can be inhaled in rooms having wet walls, but by and large fungi are not transmitted from person to person.

rickdias: What are the symptoms to look for in case of malaria?

DrShrivastav: Fevers, chills, sweating, malaise, sometimes headaches, body aches, and disorientation , confusion, seizures, coma in advanced stages of one kind of malaria (falciparum)

Manisha: Are antibiotics the only solution to bringing down viral fever?

DrShrivastav: Antibiotics, by definition are useful in bacterial fevers, not viral. They are best avoided if your doctor feels it's a virus. Paracetamol is a good agent if the fever, body ache is troublesome

Delia: What's the best way to protect wounds and injuries during the monsoons, especially during heavy rains and floods?

DrShrivastav: Make sure they are clean and dry, avoid getting into dirty water, avoid tight footwear, you could use topical antiseptic ointments to keep the area sterile. Speak to your doctor if it appears to be taking more than a few days to heal.

rickdias: Is it safe to have mosquito repellants coils and vapourises on the whole night?

DrShrivastav: Yes, although their efficacy over time is questionable

Manisha: Besides malaria is there any other illness which we need to safeguard ourselves from during the monsoons?

DrShrivastav: Multiple: leptospira, dengue, typhoid, parasites, viruses like rotavirus, fungi and bacteria are some of the illness which feed on the conducive atmosphere of monsoons

Manisha: Is an aneamic person more susceptible to malaria and other diseases?

DrShrivastav: The cause of anemia should be established: if it is a reflection of a weakened immunity, you are prone to a number of infections including malaria.

Manisha: How do I get rid of the mucus build up in the morning? Is there any other alternative besides medicines?

DrShrivastav: I haven't followed the question - where is this mucus built up?

Manisha: The mucus build up is mostly near the nose and also the head feels very heavy due to it

DrShrivastav: You probably have a predisposition to chronic sinusitis / Rhinitis. Some of the common causes are a deviated nasal septum and polyps in the respiratory tract. An Xray / CT of the paranasal sinuses and an ENT opinion should point you in the right direction.