Dr. Merle Jane RegaladoThe City Health Office under the City Health Officer Merle Jane B. Regalado, M.D. is now conducting a massive campaign for Dengue Prevention and Control. Our City Mayor Patrick G. Escalante, M.D. has urged the people of Cadiz to participate in this action for a cause. Various activities were conducted by our health personnel like conducting of lecture for Dengue, site inspection and supervising clean up drive to mitigate dengue cases. This campaign will not be materialized without community participation. Hence, in this regard, we have organized Anti- Dengue Brigade in different barangays in response to the call of Health Secretary Enrique Ona. We have encouraged our barangay officials to utilize their machinery to help combat this deadly disease. We have further emphasized that this campaign gives importance to cleanliness and sanitation of every household. The fight against Dengue is not a DOH battle alone. We have allies in this crusade from the local front, most notable, the Department of Education (DEP-ED), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas.
FACTS ABOUT DENGUE
THE VECTOR OF THE DISEASE
Female Aedis Aegypti mosquito is the dengue-carrying mosquito that feeds on blood. It bites during daytime and breeds on clear stagnant water. Three days after biting the host, it will lay eggs. The virus can be passed from adult to an egg. The eggs can lie dormant in dry condition for a year and will hatch when favorable condition comes. Under optimal condition the egg will develop into an adult mosquito in approximately 7 days. The lifespan of Aedis mosquito in nature is 15-65 days. A mosquito becomes infective approximately 8-12 days after it has bitten a person carrying the virus. This is the extrinsic incubation period and this time mosquito is potentially infectious throughout life.
HOW DENGUE IS TRANSMITTED
The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedis Aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infective person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flowers pots, plastics bags, tires, coconut husk and cans year round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease. Once the virus is inoculated into a human host, dengue has an incubation period of 4-7 days. Following incubation, a 5-7 acute febrile illness ensues. Recovery is usually completed 7-10 days. The virus is not contagious and cannot spread directly from person to person. There must be a person –to- mosquito- to another person pathway.
- high fever (up to 40 C) that last 2-7 days
- nausea and vomiting
- joint and muscle pain
- pain in eyeballs
- severe headache
- low backpain
SYMPTOMS OF DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER
- -bleeding with easy bruising
- -blood spots in the skin (petechia)
- -spitting up blood (hematemesis)
- -blood in the stool (melena)
- -bleeding gums and nose
Dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome usually develops around third to seventh day of illness. The major pathophysiological abnormalities caused by dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome include the rapid onset of plasma leakage, altered hemostasis and damage to the liver resulting in severe fluid losses and bleeding.
WHAT TO DO IF THERE ARE SYMPTOMS OF DENGUE
- drink plenty of fluids (oresol, water, and juices)
- if fever continue for 2 days, consult the doctor
- take paracetamol for fever, not aspirin
- have your blood examined for CBC(esp. hematocrit) and platelet count after fever subsides.
DOH LAUNCHES D.E.N.G.U.E STRATEGY
Health Secretary Ona has urged all local government units to mobilize Barangay Dengue Brigades.He said that once a week community-wide clean up drives against dengue will help a lot in reducing cases. He further suggests that mild dengue cases can be manage at home using the new DOH DENGUE STRATEGY.
D - daily monitoring of patients status
E - encourage intake of oral fluids like oresol, water, juices etc.
N - note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding
G - give paracetamol for fever and not aspirin because aspirin induces bleeding
U - use mosquito nets
E - early consultation is advised for any warning signs.
The new Dengue Strategy has been devised by the DOH to educate the public in home of mild dengue cases. This is to decongest hospitals by giving assurance that not all dengue cases require hospital confinement but can be managed at home using DOH 4’s.
1. Search and destroy mosquito breeding places
2. Self protection measure
3. Seek early treatment
4. Say no to indiscriminate fogging
The increase in dengue cases can be attributed to the presence of 4 different trains of the dengue virus circulating in the country today, plus the fact that the country is experiencing El Niño phenomenon. Continues rains is also responsible for the upsurge in case. Dengue virus has four (4) serotypes namely (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4). Infection with one dengue serotype confers lifelong immunity to certain type but a person may still be infected by three other serotypes.
There is no cure or vaccine for dengue and that is why we must focus on other cost effective interventions./*
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