Update on Dengue

Rainy days are here again. From what I have known, Dengue Virus is more prevalent this time of the year. So today, I went online to check for some updates on the virus and found some interesting news.

According to reports, Dengue cases in the Philippines are increasing year after year. Philippine Daily Inquirer has recently reported that there has been 16,511 Dengue cases as of March 2012, 10 of which have resulted to death. I wonder if you were included in that statistics. See, there is really not a significant number of mortality cases from Dengue. It was just so unfortunate that you were one of the few. But regardless of how small the mortality rate is, no one should die from Dengue because it is a preventable disease.

Apparently, Dengue has become a yearlong virus because the mosquitoes no longer breed only during rainy season, but all throughout the year. Besides, the dengue-carrying mosquitoes do not only bite during the day, but also during the night. So, everyone should really take extra precautions as according to some reports, the danger of dengue has become more serious.

I am not sure if our local government has any projects this year regarding dengue. Perhaps the community health workers should conduct seminars in our barangays to raise awareness on dengue virus and its prevention. Or maybe they should do fogging again. I hope the  fight against dengue virus in our area didn't end the day you left us because I know that if we take things for granted, more and more lives will be taken away by this deadly virus.

Meanwhile, I found this very helpful article from Inquirer regarding Anti-Dengue awareness campaign and I would like to share this information to those who will come across my letters to you.

1. Some 100 million people around the world get dengue every year, according to the World Health Organization. Dengue cases grow by 90 to 300 percent annually in various parts of the Philippines. Dengue is an acute infectious viral disease that can kill. The virus is transmitted by aedes mosquitoes.

2. Symptoms:  Headache, vomiting, high temperatures that persist, muscle and joint pain, pain around the eyes and skin blotches.  The disease is usually mistaken for the flu, that’s why it is not treated on time. Don’t delay, consult a medical practitioner.

3. Early treatment is important to prevent death from dengue. Have a CBC so that your platelet count can be determined. You have dengue when your platelet count is low. If this happens, go immediately to a hospital. Don’t take aspirin and NSAID as these help increase bleeding.

4. Make tea from tawa-tawa (Euphorbia hirta) and young kamote (sweet potato) leaves. Make juice from two papaya leaves and drink it. Plant eucalyptus, neem and citronella in your backyard so you can use their leaves for incense. [Note: The Department of Health has not declared tawa-tawa a dengue cure.]

5. Clean surroundings. Ensure that there is no stagnant water in flower pots, plastic bags, tires, cans, bottles and gutter where mosquitoes can breed. Ensure that water channels are not clogged. Fill up potholes so that they won’t collect water.

6. Rest. Take nutritious food (soft diet like congee). Take paracetamol and have a sponge bath so that the fever would subside. Go to a hospital to find out whether you have dengue hemmorhagic fever. Your liver could be affected if your platelet count drops precipitously. Protect yourself with mosquito nets, screens and nontoxic insect repellents.

7. Boost the immune system by eating vegetables and fruits. Drink copious amounts of water, coconut juice and herbal tea. Also take supplements like M+ to get vitamins A, B, C, K, folic acid and minerals. A weak body is susceptible to disease.

8. Dengue super heroes. Frogs, birds, fish and dragonflies that kill thousands of kiti-kiti (mosquito larvae) and mosquitoes are adversely affected by herbicides, pesticides and other poisonous chemicals. DEET, a potent poison, poses a threat to children. The best way to fight dengue is to kill mosquito larvae. (http://opinion.inquirer.net/10803/what-we-can-do-to-fight-dengue)

Apart from this, the Philippine Association of Entomologists is endorsing the  Green Cross Insect Repellant Lotion as a protection against dengue-lamok. So I'm going to ask Mama to buy one for your Adings.

I have never cared so much about Dengue virus until I lost you. Now I want to do as much I can to help others. At the moment, this is all I can do, but I am hoping that I can do a little bit more in the future.

I am going to do anything for you anak, just like I did when you were still here.

Mommy loves you and misses you more each day.

Mommy Tintin