Tag Archives: dengue fever

More dengue-carrying mosquitoes lurk at home

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CHILDREN are prone to get the dengue virus at home than when they are in school.

Citing studies done abroad, Dr. Eric Tayag, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, said there is a higher risk of contracting dengue at home than in school.

He said that in the past, experts are pointing to schools as possible sources of dengue infection. But studies done abroad showed that houses are more at risk of harboring dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Despite this information, Tayag said schools are not spared from cleaning their premises as there are potential breeding sites sitting around like water container and flower vases.

Tayag said schools should always be alerted about their responsibility in detecting signs and symptoms of dengue among students.

The school responsibility is to inform children, teach them what to look for so they can rid of possible mosquito breeding sites at home.

School personnel should be able to check students who may have fever or not feeling well so parents will be advised and if needed see a doctor immediately.

The health official recommends use of bed net, mosquito coil, and spray to protect oneself against mosquito bite.

He said the bottom line in dengue prevention is to remind the public to eliminate the breeding sites of mosquitoes and never ignore symptoms such as fever especially in children.

Dengue-carrying mosquitoes breed in clear and stagnant water.

Probiotic

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My children’s pediatrician said the probiotic capsule, which she prescribed to my children before and during their hospitalization in 2011, has helped my children to recover faster from dengue fever.

Omx is a prescription probiotic supplement. You need to consult your doctor about taking any medicine or supplement.

I made my own research about Omx and here’s what I found from the internet:

Source: Concluding part of a local study conducted by Doctors Grace Uy, Felizardo Gatcheco, Luisito Ruiz on the beneficial effects of probiotics in Grade II Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF).

Disclaimer: This is not to promote Omx, but to substantiate what our pedia is telling about probiotics.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

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Aedes aegypti or tiger mosquito – low-flying, day-biting, lurks in dark places of the house, lays eggs on clean and stagnant water

 

The D.E.N.G.U.E. Strategy

D – daily monitoring of patient’s 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 and
E – early consultation is advised for any warning signs

From DOH website:

DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER is an acute infectious disease manifested initially with fever.

Transmission

Aedes aegypti, the transmitter of the disease, is a day-biting mosquito which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.

Signs and Symptoms

  1. Sudden onset of high fever which may last 2 to 7 days.
  2. Joint & muscle pain and pain behind the eyes.
  3. Weakness
  4. Skin rashes – maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae
  5. Nosebleeding when fever starts to subside
  6. Abdominal pain
  7. Vomiting of coffee-colored matter
  8. Dark-colored stools

Prevention and Control

  1. Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
  2. Replace water in flower vases once a week.
  3. Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
  4. Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
  5. Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.
  6. Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

Vaccine

A vaccine said to prevent or cure the four strains of dengue is currently being tested in pilot areas in Laguna and Cebu. The vaccine will be available in 2014.