Dangerous Dengue Awareness

Twice had my family been threatened by the deadly dengue virus.  And both had never been easy for us.  I remember my youngest brother was already vomiting blood when we rushed him to the hospital.  Back in the early 90's, dengue wasn't that known so we really didn't know the symptoms and procedures that we must have taken.  As I recall, our parents had a hard time looking for blood to be transfused to him since he had a unique blood type.  It was truly by the Lord's grace that they  found a donor and my brother survived.

The second person was my dear daughter.  You just can't imagine how I wanted to take her place.  I always begged her to eat and drink and not to vomit them.  I even remembered crying while asking her to help herself to get well.  We  immediately brought her to the hospital but still we couldn't help ourselves  from worrying... she is our only daughter. We were really scared of the possibilities especially when she was already transfused with plasma and at the same time a medicine was already needed to help keep her blood pressure to normal level.  Never would I want that experience to happen again.

Just recently, a family member of an office mate just died recently because of dengue, so I'm making this post to at least provide information and hope that it would help.

Be informed of what you're dealing with.  Dengue fever also referred to as breakbone fever, is a virus infection brought about by an Aedes aegypti mosquito bite to people who have weak immune system.  Classic signs may include high grade fever without any focus for infection (i.e. respiratory track infection, urinary track infection, etc.), headache, poor appetite, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles which usually appear at day 3-4. If not treated early, the disease can progress into a life threatening Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever characterized by bleeding, low levels of platelet and blood plasma leakage. Or it can further progress to the most dreaded stage, Dengue Shock Syndrome where a dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Prevention is better than cure.  We already know that the culprits are the mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) which carries the deadly dengue virus.  One way of preventing them from propagating is cleaning our surroundings to avoid stagnant water where these mosquitoes could lay their eggs.

We can also put safety measures for us and our children by applying insect repellents and/or installing devices that attracts and kills mosquitoes.

Time Caution.  Still under prevention, you should be extra careful in doing outdoor activities especially during daytime for this is when dengue mosquitoes usually bite, but they also seldom bite at night when their breeding place is disturbed.

Fever Alarm.  If you are not that familiar with the underline symptoms, a mere high grade fever (38  ̊C and above) lasting for 3 days warrants a medical consult to rule out dengue fever and other life threatening diseases.

Just to be sure.  There's nothing wrong if you want to feel at ease with your child or family member's condition because you can always request for a test specifically to determine dengue fever which is usually offered at tertiary hospitals in your city.

Knowing the cure. Treatment of dengue fever is oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate cases. Blood transfusion becomes necessary when there is already bleeding episodes and the platelet gets too low.  Some suggests that "tawa-tawa", durian and other locally found natural plants and fruits may help boost immune system and help treatment, but these are not yet medically proven.  So you're using it at your own risk.

When talking about the health, safety and for the good of our loved one's there is no compromise.  We cannot take any risk that may put their life at stake.   Well, money is just money, and we can always look for it... so don't try to be thrifty especially in seeking treatment, for you might spend more when the illness worsens or worst, you lose your loved one, God forbid.  But if you  have done everything, and still it failed, don't lose hope... there is still the most powerful tool... and that is PRAYER.  Don't ever forget that the Lord has everything in His hands and He always listens. Have a healthful and faithful life everyone.  Yahweh bless.