Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

CEBU, Philippines – Description. It is an acute infectious disease manifested initially with fever.

Transmission. Aedes aegypti, the transmitter of the disease, is a day-biting mosquito which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Sudden onset of high fever which may last 2 to 7 days

• Joint & muscle pain and pain behind the eyes.

• Weakness

• Skin rashes - maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae

• Nosebleeding when fever starts to subside

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting of coffee-colored matter

• Dark-colored stools

Prevention and Control:

•  Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

• Replace water in flower vases once a week.

• Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.

• Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.

• Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.

• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

(www.doh.gov.ph)