During the rainy season, which occurs between February and May, it is common to have doubts about rain bathing and its potential health effects. However, as infectious disease scientist Francisco José Candido, of the Hospital of São José, in Fortaleza, explains, “There are no risks directly associated with the rain shower itself.”
Although there are no diseases directly related to this act, the infection specialist explains that when you take a shower in the rain, your body temperature tends to drop, which can lead to a decrease in immunity. And this decline, he puts it, “could culminate in one of the viral infections common at the time, such as the common cold and influenza.”
Pay attention to the shower area
Expert advice for those who shower in the rain is to check where the water is coming from. Francisco advises avoiding water discharge points such as streams where sewage occurs and waste is deposited. “These same places will pose a greater risk, because of the pollution that’s there,” he says.
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For those who are accustomed to bathing in a faucet or gutters, one of the risks that arise is contamination by the presence of animal secretions and droppings in these places.
Wait for the first rain
Therefore, the doctor explains, it is very common to wait for the “first rain” to pass before taking a shower in these places. With this first moment of rain, part of the polluted material will be removed by the water, which will reduce the risk of pollution and make this bath safer.
Beware of the water accumulated in the streets
In addition to viral infections such as influenza, cold and influenza, which are more common during the rainy season, the doctor is aware of the dangers of water pollution, which can cause acute diarrheal diseases and leptospirosis, especially endangering those who live in the places where they are. Rainwater ends up breaking into homes.
“Excess garbage ends up obstructing the passage of water and blocking drains. This disrupts the stormwater drainage system and can also exacerbate flooding, ”according to Professor Magda Mora, from the Department of Community Health at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC).
To avoid diseases such as leptospirosis and gastroenteritis, the specialist recommends not taking a shower in the rainwater that accumulates on the streets during the rains.
Protect yourself from respiratory diseases
The teacher also alerts to the spread of respiratory viruses during the winter that are not entirely related to showers. “It’s not because of the rain that people get the flu,” he says, “but because of the fact that they share closed environments with sick people, which facilitates contamination.”
Avoid polluting the people around you
With this, the specialist points out that it is important to be properly vaccinated against coronaviruses and influenza and to avoid places where a large number of people are concentrated if you have symptoms of influenza. When it is necessary to be indoors, she emphasizes the importance of wearing masks.
An important point is to follow the so-called respiratory etiquette, that is, to cover the nose to the mouth when coughing and sneezing, and to wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol gel afterwards to avoid contamination of surfaces.
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