BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – Dengue hemorrhagic fever claimed three lives in two towns, records of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.
As of May 10 this year, PHO has also recorded a total of 210 cases of dengue.
Two of the dengue casualties were from the town of San Joaquin – a nine-month-old infant and a five-year-old child.
The other one was a 36-year-old from the town of Mina, said Dr. Ma. Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon of the PHO.
Dengue, previously a rainy-season disease, is now considered a year-round threat by the Department of Health.
It is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
With 23 each, Pavia and Sta. Barbara topped the list of towns with the most number of dengue cases. They were followed by the following:
- Cabatuan – 15
- New Lucena – 12
- Sara – 11
- Oton – 10
- Guimbal and Pototan – eight each
- Ajuy, Miag-ao and Passi City – seven each
- Janiuay, Mina, San Dionisio and San Miguel – six each
- Alimodian, San Joaquin and Tigbauan – five each
- Calinog and Lemery – four each
- Batad and Dueñas – three each
- Balasan, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Bingawan, Leon, Maasin, San Enrique, San Rafael and Zarraga – two each, and
- Badiangan, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Igbaras, Lambunao, Leganes and Tubungan – one each.
Anticipating a surge in dengue cases once the rainy season sets in, Quiñon urged the public to continue cleaning their surroundings to deny dengue mosquitoes their habitat.
Aedes egypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the vectors of dengue, live and breed in clear, stagnant water.
“We are not supposed to stop our fight (against dengue),” Quiñon said, referring to the “4S Kontra Dengue” campaign – search and destroy mosquitoes breeding places; self-protection or putting on anti-mosquito repellant lotion, and long-sleeved clothing; seeking early treatment when one has fever; and saying “no” to indiscriminate fogging.
The classic dengue fever lasts about six to seven days, with a smaller peak of fever at the trailing end of the disease. Clinically, the platelet count will drop.
Patients may also suffer from gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Some cases lead to dengue shock syndrome which has a high mortality rate./PN
