Tag-ulan Na! Your Simple Health Guide for the Season Change

Alam mo yung feeling sobrang init ngayon, tapos biglang bumuhos ang ulan sumunod na araw? That is the Filipino experience of June, and while that first cool breeze is genuinely satisfying, the sudden shift in weather is actually one of the biggest health triggers of the year. 

Every time the season changes, our bodies go through a lot of adjustments. Mosquitoes breed. Floodwaters rise. Humidity spikes. And knowing what to watch for can make the difference between staying well and spending the month on bed rest. 

Here is #YourHealthFirst guide to staying healthy this season. 

What can you do right now? 

Di ka ba mahilig sa change? Same with your immune system.  

The jump from intense dry heat to cool, damp, and humid conditions stresses the body, and that stress opens the door to illness. Floodwaters mix with animal waste and sewage. Stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Food spoils faster in humid conditions. And because the early symptoms of most rainy season illnesses look a lot like the common flu, marami ang nagpapalampas, thinking they just caught a bad cold, until things get serious.

Illnesses You Should Watch Out For? 

As the rains cool everything down, the flu moves in. It thrives in damp, crowded spaces and spreads fast, so if you feel the full force of fever, cough, and body pain all hitting at once, do not brush it off as just a regular sipon. Rest, hydrate, and get your annual flu shot if you have not yet. 

Leptospirosis is the one that Filipinos tend to underestimate the most. It spreads through floodwater contaminated with rat urine and enters the body through wounds, cuts, or even your eyes and mouth. The scary part is it feels exactly like the flu at first, but without treatment it can lead to kidney and liver failure. If you have been wading through floodwater and develop a fever shortly after, go to the doctor right away and tell them about your exposure. 

Dengue rounds out the list, and it actually peaks right at this transition period when the heat is still lingering and the rains are just starting to create pools of stagnant water. A sudden high fever, severe headache, and pain behind the eyes are the signs to watch for. Alisin agad ang anumang nakatayong tubig sa paligid ng bahay — mosquitoes need very little to breed.

Simple Habits That Go a Long Way 

Keep your home dry and clean. After heavy rains, do a quick check for standing water inside and around the house. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a bottle cap of water. 

Wash your hands more than you think you need to. Before eating, after going out, after handling anything that may have been in contact with floodwater. 

Be smart about food. Leftovers spoil faster in humid weather. When in doubt, throw it out. Ang tipid na pagkain ngayon ay maaaring gastos sa ospital bukas. 

Dress for the weather. A light jacket or umbrella in your bag goes a long way in preventing the sudden chill that comes after getting soaked, which so many people brush off as minor until it turns into full-blown flu. 

And perhaps most importantly: do not ignore fevers. A fever that comes with muscle pain, especially after rain or flood exposure, deserves a doctor's attention right away.

Start the Rainy Season Right by Putting #YourHealthFirst 

The best time to get a check-up is before you get sick. Whether it is a flu shot, a general wellness visit, or a consultation about symptoms you are already feeling, our team at HealthFirst Clinic is here for you and your family all season long. 

Book an appointment today and face the rainy season with one less thing to worry about.

References 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, March 3). Rethinking leptospirosis prevention, the Philippines. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 32(3). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/32/3/25-1250_article 

Doctor Anywhere Philippines. (2025, July 17). Stay safe this rainy season: What you need to know about WILD diseases. https://www.doctoranywhere.ph/post/rainy-season-wild-diseases 

Frontiers in Public Health. (2024, December 5). Projecting temperature-related dengue burden in the Philippines under various socioeconomic pathway scenarios. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1420457/full 

Hello Doctor. (2021, June 8). Dengue fever and leptospirosis on the rise during rainy season. https://hellodoctor.com.ph/infectious-diseases/dengue-fever-and-leptospirosis/ 

Maxicare Corporation. (n.d.). Preventing the four most common diseases during the rainy season. https://www.maxicare.com.ph/health-and-wellness/preventing-the-four-most-common-diseases-during-the-rainy-season/ 

Outbreak News Today. (2025, July 12). Philippines: Rainy season and the leptospirosis risk. https://outbreaknewstoday.substack.com/p/philippines-rainy-season-and-the 

Philippine News Agency. (2021, June 10). DOH-3 warns public of prevalent diseases during rainy season. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1143277 

PMC / National Institutes of Health. (2025). Leptospirosis in the Philippines: Confronting the structural roots of a recurring threat. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567350/