ILOILO – The number of hospitalized dengue cases in this province has risen to 57, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
They were confined, as of June 23, in 10 district hospitals and at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital.
“We have 48 patients in our hospitals (on June 22) but subong nagsaka na sa 57 patients. This is (so far) the highest dengue patients admitted in our hospitals,” said Defensor yesterday.
The patients are in the following hospitals:
* Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan – one
* Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian – four
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal – 17
* Sara District Hospital in Sara – one
* Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas – three
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog – six
* Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay – seven
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Lambunao – two
* Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City – three
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital in Barotac Viejo – two
* San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital in San Joaquin – 11
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
Defensor assures the public that hospitals have long prepared for surges in dengue cases. They may expand their bed capacities, too.
The provincial government has procured IV fluids, test kits and medicines.
Defensor last month issued Executive Order No. 270 escalating dengue surge prevention and management measures that include the following:
* Readiness of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and all district hospitals to escalated bed capacity, and provision of the needed health personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies.
* Maximize implementation of the memorandum of agreement dated 14 April 2022 between the Province, the Western Visayas Medical Center, West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Sanitarium on cooperation and partnership in the referral of patients and resources sharing.
* Continuing support to the health personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies requirements of the Municipal/City Health offices.
* The Provincial Civil Defense COVID-19 Case Referral System shall be adopted as the system for the management of referral of patients of the Province in its intensified dengue surge response for healthcare facilities.
Defensor urged the people to continue cleaning their surroundings to get rid of the breeding places of mosquitoes.
As of June 18, Iloilo province had 568 dengue cases with six deaths.
Areas with high cases are the following: San Joaquin (118), Guimbal (57 cases with two deaths), Tubungan (52), Miag-ao (34 cases with one death), Oton (25), Estancia (24), Dumangas (20), Pototan (19), and Tigbauan (19).
Eight towns detected with clustering of cases are Dueñas, Dumangas, Guimbal, Oton, Pototan, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.
The clustering of cases per barangay are:
* Pandan in Dueñas (10 cases)
* Tamboilan (five) and Jardin (three) in Dumangas
* Bongol-San Vicente (four), Cabasi (four), Burgos- Gengosi (three), Camangahan (three), Bagumbayan-Poblacion (six), and Cabubugan (six) all in Guimbal
* Santa Rita in Oton (five)
* Cau-ayan in Pototan (three)
* Igburi (10), Qui-anan (10), Lawigan (12), and Siwaragan (six) all in San Joaquin
* Parara Norte in Tigbauan (three)
* Teniente Benito (four) and Lanag Sur (13) all in Tubungan.
According to the World Health Organization, a patient enters what is called the critical phase normally about three to seven days after illness onset. During the 24-48 hours of critical phase, a small portion of patients may manifest sudden deterioration of symptoms. It is at this time, when the fever is dropping (below 38°C) in the patient, that warning signs associated with severe dengue can manifest.
Severe dengue is a potentially fatal complication, due to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment.
Warning signs that doctors should look for include:
* severe abdominal pain
* persistent vomiting
* rapid breathing
* bleeding gums or nose
* fatigue
* restlessness
* liver enlargement
* blood in vomit or stool/PN
