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DOH: Mild dengue cases can be managed at home


The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that mild dengue cases can be managed at home and not all cases require hospitalization. Dr. Eric Tayag, Chief of the DOH National Epidemiology Center (NEC), said a dengue case is usually considered 'mild' when a dengue patient seeks medical attention early and is diagnosed immediately. "Kaya mas maraming mild [cases] sapagkat mas maraming maagang pumupunta sa ospital ngayon, na gusto nating mangyari (There are a lot of mild cases recently because many patients go to hospitals immediately, which is exactly what we want)," he said. "Lumalabas na mild kasi maaga silang nagpapatingin (The dengue appears mild because they seek early consultation)." The DOH devised an easy-to-remember D.E.N.G.U.E. acronym to educate the public on home treatment of mild dengue cases. It stands for:

  • Daily monitoring of patient's status
  • Encourage intake of oral fluids
  • Note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding
  • Give paracetamol, not aspirin
  • Use mosquito nets
  • Early consultation is advised
Home treatment of mild dengue cases, will also help decongest public hospitals that barely have room for more patients, the DOH said. Dengue patients are usually admitted to hospitals for blood transfusion and replacement of lost fluids. However, when dengue is diagnosed early, a patient can be managed at home by encouraging intake of oral fluids or oral glucose electrolyte solution. According to the DOH, an oral solution of one liter of water, eight teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon salt can act as a substitute for an oral glucose electrolyte solution. Tayag reminds the public to be wary of perceived cures to dengue like camote tops, raw papaya juice and tawa-tawa tea. He said that these home remedies may either aggravate or cure, depending on the degree of the patient's sickness. "Hindi namin tahasang nirerekomenda, hindi rin naman namin ipinagbabawal, pero mas maigi na po na 'wag kayong magkaroon ng false sense of security sapagkat baka akala niyo gamot iyan. Wala pong gamot ang dengue," he said. (We are neither recommending nor disputing these home remedies, but it's best to not have a false sense of security because you might think these remedies cure dengue. There is no medicine for dengue.) As of August 21, 2010, a total of 62, 503 cases were reported, almost 90% higher compared to the number of cases in the same time period last year. The year 2009 currently has the highest number of dengue cases in the country. However, DOH earlier said the number of cases could reach 80,000 by the end of the year, and could even be much higher than the 2009 record. Region 6, 4-A and 12 have the most number of dengue cases reported from January 1 to August 21, 2010. Four hundred sixty five deaths were recorded nationwide. DOH ramps up info campaign The DOH has also heightened its public education and information campaign against dengue.
DOH is giving out this dengue health advisory pamphlet at LRT stations. Click here to download
Earlier this month, the DOH started their school visits to disseminate dengue information to pupils. Now they are bringing dengue prevention data to Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations around the metro. On Thursday, DOH Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona visited the LRT-Monumento station in Caloocan to unveil an information tarpaulin that will be posted in all LRT stations. Ona also gave away health advisory pamphlets that remind the public about dengue prevention. These pamphlets and information materials are not only for preventing dengue but also for preventing other rainy season diseases like flu, cough, and sore eyes. The Health chief reminded the public to keep these preventive measures in mind, especially when they ride public vehicles. "Laging iniisip ito lalu na sa LRT kung saan ang mga pasahero natin ay kumpol-kumpol at magkakalapit-lapit (Remember this especially when you ride the LRT, where passengers stand close together)," he said. "Kapag uubo, takpan ang ating bibig. 'Pag uwi, hugasan ninyo ang inyong kamay with soap and water (Cover your mouth when you cough and when you get home, wash your hands with soap and water)," he said, adding that failing to do these simple sanitary measures increase the possibility of spreading diseases like flu and sore eyes. The DOH also played the Dengue jingle, which reminds people to clean their houses and destroy breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Listen to the Department of Health's DENGUE JINGLE
The song goes, "Alam mo ba, alam mo ba, kung walang kiti-kiti, walang lamok. Alam mo ba, alam mo ba, kung walang lamok, walang dengue."–VVP, GMANews.TV
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