Six-year old dies of dengue, 2 others still in hospital
Residents of Barangay Gustilo, La Paz are alarmed with the reported death of a six-year old girl due to dengue fever recently.
Barangay Captain Adolfo Jayme has in fact sought the assistance of the City Health Office as two other children from his barangay were hospitalized, reportedly, also due to dengue fever.
The six-year old girl who is this year's first victim of the dreaded disease brought by the dengue carrying mosquito was identified as Mary Diane Estotil.
The girl reportedly suffered from stomach pain and fever last June 24. She was brought to the hospital but died says later. Her family members said, Estotil's physician told them that she died of dengue fever.
The two other children currently under medication in a hospital in the city allegedly for dengue fever are John Paul Guerrero, 6 years old, and Remo Eric Leonor, 8 years old.
Dengue fever is commonly caused by day-biting mosquito Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day especially during early morning hours before daybreak and in the late afternoon before dark.
Symptoms of typical uncomplicated dengue usually start with fever within 5 to 6 days after one has been bitten by an infected mosquito and include: High fever, up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, Severe headache, Retro-orbital (behind the eye) pain, Severe joint and muscle pain, Nausea and vomiting, and Rash that may appear over most of the body 3 to 4 days after the fever begins.
Sever symptoms which lead to hemorrhagic dengue include: Marked damage to blood and lymph vessels; Bleeding from the nose, gums, or under the skin, causing purplish bruises.
This form of dengue disease can cause death.
Dengue carrying mosquitoes normally populate and breed during rainy season. They usually live in dark areas and stagnant waters.
Officials of Barangay Gustilo has called on the residents to start cleaning up their surroundings to destroy possible breeding places of the dreaded mosquitoes.
Jayme lamented that the girl's family did not immediately coordinate with the barangay as regards the illness of their child.
Jayme said their barangay has a midwife and a nurse which could have immediately attended on the girl.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office is set to spearhead the clean up drive in all of the city's barangays to prevent the spread of the dengue carrying mosquitoes.
The office is also planning to conduct fogging operations in schools and other areas frequented by the public in the coming days.
The Barangay Gustilo case is so far the first case of dengue recorded in the city since the start of the rainy season.
The Iloilo province has not also reported any cases of dengue fever as of press time.
Health experts say this time of the year when the rainy season is just starting is the best time for the dengue carrying mosquitoes to breed.
There is no specific treatment for classic dengue fever, and mostly one will recover completely within two weeks. To help with recovery, health care experts recommend: getting plenty of bed rest, drinking lots of fluids, and taking medicine to reduce fever.
Experts also advise people with dengue fever not to take aspirin. However, Acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain-reducing medicines are safe for most people.
For severe dengue symptoms, including shock and coma, early and aggressive emergency treatment with fluid and electrolyte replacement can be lifesaving.