ILOILO City – This Saturday, the city government is launching the citywide “Ugsaran Tinluan Para Balatian Malikawan” – a clean-up drive to get rid of the breeding places of dengue mosquitoes.
All the 180 barangays of the city will participate.
The launching will be held in the coastal barangay of Sto. Niño Norte in Arevalo district.
As of July 4, the City Health Office (CHO) logged a total of 326 dengue cases – over 50 percent higher than the cases recorded last year from January to July.
Of the 326 cases, three died – a 15-year-old lad from Barangay So-oc, Arevalo; a 28-year old man from Barangay Calahunan, Mandurriao district; and a nine-year old boy from Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo.
Clustering of cases was also observed in barangays Lanit, Jaro district; Calaparan and Sto. Niño Norte in Arevalo; and Hibao-an Sur in Mandurriao district.
The citywide clean-up will be participated by different stakeholders such as national government agencies and the private sector.
CHO Medical Officer IV Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna said dengue cases usually surge during the rainy season.
Dengue is caused by day-biting mosquitoes and breed in clear, stagnant water.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies dengue into two major categories: dengue (with or without warning signs) and severe dengue.
The sub-classification of dengue with or without warning signs is designed to help health practitioners triage patients for hospital admission, ensuring close observation, and to minimize the risk of developing the more severe dengue.
Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms during the febrile phase (2-7 days):
* severe headache
* pain behind the eyes
* muscle and joint pains
* nausea
* vomiting
* swollen glands
* rash
According to WHO, 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
If patients manifest these symptoms during the critical phase, WHO said close observation for the next 24-48 hours is essential so that proper medical care can be provided, to avoid complications and risk of death.
Close monitoring should also continue during the convalescent phase./PN
