The monsoon may bring respite from the sweltering summer heat, but it also carries an annual health warning: this time, doctors are reporting a sharp rise in Hepatitis A cases among children.
Heavy rains, stagnant water, and poor sanitation create ideal breeding grounds for waterborne infections.
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Children—particularly schoolchildren—are most vulnerable, say paediatricians, as they are exposed to contaminated drinking water, unhygienic food stalls, and close contact with infected peers.
Doctors warn that the flooding of low-lying areas with sewage-contaminated water has worsened risks this season. Street food, especially outside schools and marketplaces, is a major culprit. The absence of clean water for washing hands and utensils makes popular roadside snacks a hidden health hazard.
“Schools can turn into hotspots,” points out Dr Ramesh Shah, a senior family physician, citing shared water bottles, faucets, and group meals as risk factors. Authorities have been urged to tighten checks on street vendors operating outside school gates during the rains.
Hepatitis A, a viral infection of the liver, spreads mainly through contaminated food and water. Its symptoms include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, poor appetite, vomiting, dark urine, and jaundice.
“We’ve seen more cases in the last few weeks, particularly among school-going children aged 3 to 7 who consume food outside. Nearly two out of five children have tested positive for Hepatitis A,” said Dr Atul Palwe, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospital, Lullanagar, Pune.
“There is no specific cure for Hepatitis A. Treatment focuses on supportive care—rest, hydration, and nutrition. Most children recover fully in a few weeks. Parents must not ignore early symptoms and should consult a doctor immediately," Dr Palwe added.
Doctors and civic authorities emphasise prevention as the most effective tool and recommend boiling drinking water, frequent handwashing, avoiding the sharing of bottles or utensils in schools, not consuming roadside food during the monsoons, and administering timely Hepatitis A vaccination.
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"This problem isn't only limited to big cities: such cases are seen in smaller towns and rural areas too. While vaccination of course helps prevent the illness from raising its ugly head in the first place, personal hygiene goes a long way to ensure that children remain protected from these viruses for years," adds Dr Shah.
As monsoon infections surge, paediatricians are urging families to stay alert.
While the illness is usually self-limiting, early detection and simple preventive steps can make the difference between a few weeks of sickness and a serious health scare.
