QUEZON City, Philippines (October 5) – Experiencing fever, severe headache, muscle cramps, vomiting, bleeding of the nose and gums, skin rashes and fatigue that will probably lead to death? It must be dengue.
Dengue – also known as break bone fever – is an infection caused by mosquito bites. The infected female mosquitos that carry this disease is classified under the species of Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus.Many cases occurs in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. It has taken many lives and is considered as one of the most deadly infectious disease in some Asia and Latin American countries.
Its prey has no age limit and can affect anyone. According to researchers, there is an estimated 390 million cases of dengue infections every year worldwide and 96 million of this turns into serious illness. They added that 350 million or half of the world’s population who lived in over 120 countries is at high risk of having a dengue breakout. While in the Philippines, dengue is ranked as the number 1 reason for children’s hospitalization.
At present, there is still no definite vaccine that can vanish the disease but with proper medical attention and treatments the patient can overcome the illness. However, there are ways to avoid it like applying mosquito repellent and reducing mosquito’s possible habitats like throwing away stagnant water.
Dengue comes with unbearable pain and misery. Let us protect ourselves from its attack.
(written by Alanna Marie Ambi, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
