Home care management, encouraged by the OHS during the early stages of Dengue Fever

COTABATO CITY-- With the recent increase in Dengue Fever cases in Cotabato City, dozens of victims have been sent and admitted in the hospitals. But this should not be the case, according to the Office on Health Services.

In a lecture during the Dengue Forum conducted by the city government, Dr. Marlow Niñal has talked about how Dengue Fever can be treated at home during its early stages. He says it is not necessary for patients to be immediately admitted to the hospital as there are ways to treat it in the comfort of our homes.

First is to give Paracetamol to a patient when he/she is showing the signs and symptoms of Dengue Fever. This is the safest medicine for any age infected by this virus. Never give anti biotics as this type of medicine is only for illnesses caused by bacteria and not by virus infection. Pain relievers like Ibuprofen and Mefenamic Acid are also discouraged.

Next is to make sure that the patient stays hydrated all the time. As OIC City Health Officer Dr. Suher Guinomla-Ibrahim said, the number one cause of death for Dengue patients is dehydration. Low platelet count only comes second.

Always make clean and potable water available for the patient. Formulas that can aid hydration like Oresol must also be taken by the patients in volumes that are proportionate to their age and weight.

And third is to visit the nearest Health Centers in their area. The health workers are all trained in providing aid to Dengue patients in the febrile phase or the first 3 days.

If severe symptoms like frequent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, seizures, and/or difficulty in breathing, after the first 3 days of fever are already present, this is the time when patients must be admitted to the hospitals.

But parents are still warned abour lowering their guards after the first 3 days. Hydration must still be continued up to 7 days as the severe signs of Dengue may still show even if the patient's temperature normalizes after 3 days.

To further prevent Dengue cases in the city from increasing, the OHS encourages all members of the community to "search and destroy" all the possible places where mosquitoes can lay eggs. Dr. Guinomla-Ibrahim said,

 Dengue prevention is a multi sectoral task and is not just the task of the city government and concerned line agencies but is the task of everyone.

To complement the homebased Dengue prevention measures that every household is encouraged to practice, misting in schools and in common areas are being done by the Office on Health Services to kill Dengue carrying mosquitoes and their eggs.

In Cotabato City, there is already a total of 527 recorded cases of Dengue from January up to August of this year, with the highest number in June and July. No deaths have been monitored by the OHS from the affected residents of Cotabato City. (HALIMA K. SATOL-IBRAHIM/MINDANAO EXPOSE’)