The Dreaded, Dreadful Dengue

	DOH: 42,207 dengue cases,  193 deaths from January to 1st week of June ELR, GMA News, June 15, 2013, 4:06am With the onset of the rainy season, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue (pronounced as "DEN-gee" or "DEN-gay"), has risen.

Aedes aegypti/ Aedes albopictus

CAUSE:  Dengue virus (has 4 strains) contracted from the bite of an Aedes mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person (infected person > mosquito > another person)

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

·         Fever (usually high-grade, 39-41 degrees Centigrade) and Chills

·         Headache

·         Eye pain

·         Joint and Muscle pain

·         Rash (Reddish or Pale pink)

·         Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of Appetite

After the initial fever, some people may have:

·         Bleeding from the nose, mouth, gums

·         Vomiting of blood

·         Blackish stools

·         Severe abdominal pain

·         Signs of shock

MANAGEMENT:

·      If you or a family member has high-grade fever of 2 days duration and rashes on the skin, consult a physician or visit the nearest clinic/ health center/ hospital immediately.

·       There is no specific medicine for treating dengue fever.

·         For mild cases, the patient is treated with plenty of fluids and rest.  He may also be given Paracetamol for fever and/or pain. However, do not give him anti-inflammatory medicines like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or Mefenamic acid (may increase the risk of bleeding).

·         Dengue hemorrhagic fever, the more serious form of dengue fever, usually requires treatment in a hospital.

PREVENTION:

·         There is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever.

4S AGAINST DENGUE by the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

·         Search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes.

o   Throw away, turn over, empty any container and old tires that may accumulate rain water.

o   Change water and clean flower vases every week.

o   Always place a tight lid on containers used for water storage (drums, buckets).

o   Check that there are no mosquito larvae (kiti-kiti) in stored water.

o   Avoid having plants that could accumulate rain water.

·         Self-protection measures:

o   Use screens on door and windows.

o   Use anti-mosquito nets.

o   Wear protective clothing (long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and closed shoes).

o   Use safe repellents (DEET, Picaridin, Lemon Eucalyptus oil) on your clothing and exposed skin. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

o   Spray insecticides under the tables and behind the curtains.

·         Seek early consultation.

·         Say NO to indiscriminate fogging.

o   Do fogging only during outbreaks. (Fogging operations usually fail because these merely drive away mosquitoes to other areas.)

Sources:

Department of Health (DOH)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

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