New Delhi, July 19 -- Heavy rains, waterlogging, and high humidity create a perfect breeding ground for harmful microbes. As food hygiene and water quality deteriorate during the monsoon, hospitals and diagnostic labs across the country witness a sharp surge in patients suffering from severe diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea, and fever.

Even though the symptoms are similar, determining whether the illness is a stomach disorder or a foodborne infection is important, as different treatment options are available, says Dr LakshmiPriya R, Senior Consultant Microbiologist and Molecular Biologist, Metropolis Healthcare Limited (Chennai). According to doctors, cases of stomach disorder and foodborne infections surge during the monsoo...