DAVAO CITY, Mar 11 (PIA) Health authorities in Davao del Norte and Davao region support the advocacy of early treatment of dengue cases through hydration, and early admission to hospital.
Dr. AgapitoHornido, provincial health officer of Davao del Norte underscored that the death caused by dengue fever is primary due to dehydration.
He said it is necessary for patients to be admitted immediately to the hospital after having high fever from one to two days for early medical intervention.
‘’ It is important for the doctors to have time to manage patients’ hydration and help them survive,” Hornido said.
He also stressed that durian, tawa-tawa(Euphorbia hirta) and balut (duck embryo) do not cure dengue cases.
He said that culturally, male patients underestimate the effect of dengue fever to the body treating it just like an ordinary fever.
Hornido also observed there are still doctors and even parents who demand for immediate blood transfusion once the patient is diagnosed to have dengue fever giving more concern to the platelet count which is a common presumption.
He said there are also doctors who address immediately dengue cases with dehydration using the dextrose and plasma which is available in the local blood bank.
“It is easier to detect dehydration brought about by the loose bowel movement than dehydration due to dengue fever because you can see the number of waste excretion. Incidentally, the leaking of the blood vessels occur inside the body and cannot the seen through the naked eyes,” he said.
Hornido said when the dehydration sets in the body shock occurs followed by death.
He said it is already hard for the doctor to revive the patient’s life when it is already in the state of shock when the body temperature is already low.
Hornido said dengue cases vary from one person to another so the doctor’s approach varies according to the state of the patient.
“We encourage parents to bring their children immediately to the nearest health center so that they can be referred immediately to the hospital. Early intervention, early treatment and management are our approach to dengue cases,” he said.
Engr. Antonietta Ebol, regional dengue program manager of the Department of Health 11 said Dr. Richard Mata, a pediatrician has been their partner in the dengue awareness campaign.
She said the government and Dr. Mata share the vision of reducing the dengue cases in the region.
Dr. Mata has advocated the necessity of hydration by taking hydrating agent and dextrose as treatment for dengue fever.
He said dengue fever leads to the breaking of the blood vessels which causes the dehydration and if not treated accordingly, will lead to kidney failure, dialysis and death.
Mata said it is important for patients with dengue fever to urinate from time to time to ensure that hydration sets in the body.
“I advocate for the early admission of patients to the hospital for them to be treated accordingly,” he said.
He also stressed that Tawa-tawa, Durian and Balut are not cure for dengue.
In Davao City alone, 52 deaths were attributed to dengue fever in 2012 while 37 deaths in 2013.
The Regional Dengue Program Office of the DOH 11 also noted three deaths due to dengue fever in January, 2014. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
No comments:
Post a Comment