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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RAINY SEASON DISEASES

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"Big" and little children wants to play…and not to get sick.

What sicknesses do you and your loved ones get during rainy season?  The common cold? The vaccine-preventable flu? The dreaded dengue?

Feel free to answer this question at the comment section. Would love to hear from you!

With the recent flooding caused by typhoon "Maring" and habagat and with many people wading in the flood waters, Leptospirosis comes to the fore.

STOP: FLOODS = LEPTOSPIROSIS!!!

Etiology (Cause): Leptospira bacteria

Transmission:

• Contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) directly or with water, soil, or food contaminated with urine from infected animals
• Bacteria enter through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if skin is broken from a cut or scratch.
• Infected animals include but are not limited to cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, wild animals.

 Signs and Symptoms:

• High fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Vomiting
• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
• Red eyes
• Abdominal Pain
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• No symptoms (Some infected persons may have no symptoms at all.)

 Complications:

• Kidney damage
• Meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord)
• Liver failure
• Respiratory distress
• Death

 Treatment: Antibacterial drugs (need to be given early to prevent complications)

 Note: Consult your doctor early for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention:

• Do NOT swim or wade in water that may be contaminated with urine of infected animals.
• Avoid or minimize contact with potentially infected animals.
• Wear protective clothing or footwear for those exposed to contaminated water or soil.

See also Leptospirosis Fact Sheet  [PDF - 105KB]

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


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