Two boys die from dengue

CEBU, Philippines - Two boys, ages three and 10, died from dengue yesterday dawn at the Cebu City Medical Center.

CCMC hospital administrator Kenneth Siasar said the three-year-old from Barangay Basak-San Nicolas died at 1:31 a.m. while the 10-year-old from Barangay Basak Pardo passed away at 3:40 a.m.

Siasar said the two were brought to the hospital already in severe condition. They were already hypotensive or with low blood pressure that caused seizure.

Siasar explained early symptoms of dengue fever are unnoticeable and children may still be playful at this stage. This is reportedly the reason why children are rushed to the hospital already on the fifth or sixth day of fever.

The problem, Siasar said, is that this stage is but too late for any doctor to save the victim who may have low immune system with less food intake and absence of appropriate medications at home.

Data

Most of the cases in Central Visayas were reported in Cebu City.

Records from the surveillance unit of the Department of Health-7 showed that dengue-inflicted deaths in the entire region have reached 214 from January 1 until December 3, more than twice the number of recorded deaths in the same period last year at 77.

Dr. Alma Corpin, officer-in-charge of the City Health Department, said majority of those infected are minors particularly below 10 years old. Severe cases resulted to death.

She said children are most vulnerable because they are easy targets as they are more exposed to the environment during outdoor activities.

The report of two minors who reportedly died in Cebu City yesterday allegedly due to dengue has not reached the city health office yet.

City health personnel collect data only during office hours on weekdays.

DOH-7's Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, in its weekly report, noted that there are already at least 24,264 dengue cases reported, excluding the 214 deaths earlier mentioned in this article. This covers the same period, from January 1 to December 3.

It also cited that majority of the cases were from Cebu City (14.2 percent); followed by Mandaue City (5.7 percent); Lapu-Lapu City (4.2 percent); Dumaguete City (3.7 percent); and Toledo City (3.2 percent).

The same report also showed that most of those affected were from six to 10 years age group.

However, age group is a variable that changes per week, said DOH-7 RESU head Rennan Cimafranca.

He explained that minors are easily affected by dengue since they less care of their body condition, thus, needing sufficient guidance from adults. This is the reason why parents and guardians are advised to check on children constantly, especially infants. They are advised further to bring the child the doctor when the fever persists and rashes appear.

Cimafranca reminded practicing preventive measures.

These measures are in the 4-S campaign of DOH: (1) say yes to fogging only during outbreaks; (2) search and destroy; (3) self-protection measures; and most importantly, (4) seek early consultation.

Cimafranca said these can be implemented at the household level by cleaning premises regularly and getting rid of possible breeding sites of mosquitoes.

To avoid stagnant water; drums and pails used to store water must be covered; water in flower vases must be replaced; gutters must be cleaned; and unused tin cans, jars, and bottles must be disposed of.

Parents are also advised to let their children wear long pants and long sleeves or use mosquito repellant or mosquito nets during bedtime.

These measures had to be done seriously, Cimafranca said, since they have observed that dengue incidence in the region has not indicated any significant drop when supposedly there has to be a downward trend of cases every last quarter of the year.

He attributed this to the prevailing rainfall, which has caused stagnated waters, and the loosened implementation of preventive measures. (FREEMAN)