Top Communicable Diseases in India

A communicable disease is an illness that is transmissible by contacting infected individuals. It can also be due to contaminated objects, food, etc., and direct or indirect disease-carrying vectors. The communicable diseases list keeps changing and has become a great cause for concern.

1. Covid - 19 (Coronavirus)- Coronavirus is a communicable disease that recently created a great impact worldwide. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. People infected with coronavirus get mild to moderate respiratory illness. The virus may not require special medications in most cases, while it can prove fatal in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and others with chronic respiratory issues.

It can spread from infected people from their mouth or nose when they cough, sneeze, etc. The best way to stay protected is to follow the prescribed norms such as maintaining social distance, washing hands regularly, wearing a mask, and being self-isolated when affected. It is currently one of India's top 10 communicable diseases and requires special attention to slow down transmission.

At Tata AIG, we provide a health insurance plan with Covid-19 cover. It can cover your hospitalization and post hospitalization expenses through a cashless claim or the reimbursement claim.

2.Malaria- It is another life-threatening communicable disease caused by parasites that can be transmitted to people by infected Anopheles mosquitoes through their bites. Primarily, the symptoms can include headaches, chills, or fever.

The symptoms might appear 10 to 15 days after the infected mosquito bite. It can be difficult to find if it is malaria. When left untreated, it can lead to severe illness or even death. Infants, pregnant women, children under the age of 5 years, and patients with HIV are highly susceptible to malaria infection.

If you have a family with children, a family health insurance plan can prove extremely beneficial to help cure them in an emergency.

3. Typhoid- Typhoid is a common communicable disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi and spreads through contaminated water or food. The symptoms include fatigue, headache, nausea, prolonged fever, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhoea. It is treated by providing antibiotics.

However, the increasing resistance to the different antibiotics makes the treatment complicated. It is higher in the population that lacks safe and hygienic living conditions.

4.Tuberculosis- Tuberculosis, which is a communicable disease, is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and predominantly affects your lungs. It can spread from infected people through the air when they cough, sneeze or spit.

People with a weak immune system, living with diabetes, having diabetes, using tobacco have a high risk of contracting tuberculosis. Symptoms might start with a mild cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. It can lead to late identification and increase of spread to different people.

On average, an infected person can infect 5 to 15 people in close contact. TB is treatable with antimicrobial drugs and curable.

5.Hepatitis- Hepatitis is another infectious disease that results in inflammation of the liver. When left untreated, it can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, etc. Predominantly, it is caused by the Hepatitis virus, while other infections and toxic substances such as alcohol and drug consumption can also lead to Hepatitis.
Self-limiting Hepatitis can be due to oral ingestion of contaminated water. There are different Hepatitis viruses referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E.

6. Diarrhoeal disease- It is one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years of age. The disease can last in an individual for several days, leaving the body dehydrated and excessive fluid loss leading to death in extreme cases.

Diarrhoea occurs due to an infection in the intestinal tract by viral, bacterial, and other parasitic organisms. It is spread through contaminated food, water, or person to person due to lack of proper hygiene.

7.Influenza (Flu)- Flu is an illness caused by influenza viruses that are communicated through respiratory droplets, and it can affect the throat and respiratory system. Common flu symptoms include mild to severe fever, sore throat, running nose, headache, fatigue, and body ache.

Flu infections are highly common among children compared to older adults. An infected individual can infect others starting from a day before the onset of symptoms till 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.

Securing your life and your family's well-being is an important money goal in your life. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and stay financially secure to meet unforeseen expenses incurred towards a medical emergency. A health insurance plan is an ideal way to invest and stay protected.

It can provide the necessary financial assistance to handle your medical expenses related to treating communicable diseases increasing in India.

At Tata AIG, we have achieved a claim settlement ratio of 94.21% during the financial year 2020-2021. Our customer service executive team can assist you 24x7 regarding a claim or any query regarding your health insurance policy.

The sum insured can be used to pay for your hospitalization and other medical expenses. You can either benefit from the cashless health insurance policy by getting treated in our network of hospitals or pay for your expenses in a preferred hospital of your choice to get the cost reimbursed. In addition, you can benefit from the policy by accessing the features online.

Communicable diseases in India increase due to a lack of proper hygiene and awareness. The symptoms for most of the diseases are mild and cannot be found easily. However, when left untreated, it can prove fatal. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself about the top communicable diseases, understand their symptoms, and take the necessary preventive measures.

In case of diagnosis and a medical emergency, you also need the necessary financial resources to treat it promptly for quick recovery and to contain the spread. Ensure to purchase a health insurance plan to accommodate such expenses and stay protected!