Online newsletter for the citizens of Sagunto, Sison, Pangasinan, Philippines
The much anticipated rainy season after the unusually hot ‘El Nino’ summer has arrived. However, the heavy rains also brings with it various health problems. Heavy rains, almost daily, brings with it the prevalence of standing pools of water that are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes (Aedes Egypti) carrying the virus. Because of this, the incidence of confirmed cases of Dengue fever has been slowly rising all over the Philippines but in Sison, barangays Sagunto and Artacho have been identified to have more cases than usual this year.
Dengue fever is typically characterized as a benign and non-fatal febrile disease similar to influenza. However, like influenza, Dengue fever has different types and levels.
Classic Dengue Fever presents with what is considered to be flu-like symptoms: fever, headache, exhaustion, rashes, and severe muscle pain, frequently accompanied by sore throat, dizziness, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms typically last for 5-7 days with fever usually not exceeding 40.5°C which “may subside only to return, reaching its peak on the last day of the febrile phase.”
Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a more severe, more lethal form of infection. DHF symptoms include: fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and bleeding. Complications from DHF can lead to internal bleeding, pneumonia and inflammation of the heart. Approximately 30% of Classic Dengue Fever cases can progress to DHF (as is the case of several known cases in Sagunto and Artacho).
Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) can develop in patients with severe DHF. DSS is a extremely dangerous and lethal. Patients without proper treatment can die within 12-24 hours. DSS manifests suddenly and often unexpectedly as it comes on after the fever has subsided and is often accompanied by acute abdominal pain. Subsequent symptoms are: sweating, cold extremities, restlessness, subnormal temperature, blotchy, cold and clammy skin and rapid and weak pulse.
There is no specific treatment or medication to treat Dengue fever. At most, medical providers only manage and suppress the symptoms. Fever reducers like paracetamol are administered. However, aspirin and ibuprofen are strongly discouraged as they increase bleeding complications. Fluid replacement through oral hydration or intravenous fluid therapy is very effective in combating most of the symptoms of Dengue fever. More severe cases, those experiencing bleeding, may require blood transfusions.
Several patients from Sagunto and Artacho are severe enough to require blood transfusions. If you would like to help, please consider donating blood.
PREVENTING DENGUE FEVER
The best way to prevent Dengue fever is to eradicate the breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquitoes which carry the virus. Fogging, the common solution against the Aedes only kills the adult mosquitoes not their larvae. The most effective of preventing the mosquitoes from breeding is to make sure that they do not have any place to lay their eggs. Here are a few more steps everyone can take to reduce infestation:
1. Destroy Breeding Grounds – mosquitoes do not need a lot of water to multiply. All they need is a standing body of water such as trash containers, empty bottles and cans, old tires, roof gutters, ditches, and anything that can hold water stagnant long enough for the mosquito’s breeding cycle.
2. Avoid outdoors at dusk – since the Aedes is a daytime biter, they tend to be most active at just before dark and are most likely to bite at this time
3. Protective clothing – cover up your arms and legs if you have to be outdoors.
4. Chemical Control – indiscriminate use of pesticides to kill mosquitoes is discouraged as they develop immunities to certain chemicals. Make sure to apply the appropriate chemical that is effective against the Aedes mosquito.
Children are most susceptible to Dengue fever. Please do your part and clean your surroundings, remove all possible mosquito breeding grounds.
And if you are able, please seriously consider donating blood. The shortage is not only in Sison, it’s nationwide.
Reference: http://www.panbiodengue.com/
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thats why citizens of tropical Countries you should have to do even just a small action…clean your sorroundings the breeding stations of mosquito should be cleaned up…a small action help save lives…
apay ngay ditoy agat ket awan met? nalaing kami ngamin nga aglinis ditoy ken no kagaten nakami ti lamok ditoy ket tay lamok ti madengue – padasen yo man ngamin ti uminom ti basi ken lambanog ta kitaem no di lamok ti madengue he he he he! joke only pards!