I can’t believe it’s September already. My September last year was crazy-stressful. It was this month last year that I had dengue. I didn’t want to look back on that crazy time, but I figured that I had to do something about telling more people about the dangers of dengue. Especially, when I just heard that one of the daughters of my helper has dengue. So with this, I want to share with people what I learned when I attended the GSK “Aksyon Laban sa Dengue” event last week with Calpol as the paracetamol that is recommended by the World Health Organization as first-line treatment for dengue fever.
Aksyon Laban sa Dengue
What I found out about Dengue:
– Dengue is caused by the deadliest insect in the world, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. I learned that once this type of mosquito takes it’s first bite, it will still take time for the virus to develop in the mosquito’s body before it’s bit becomes dangerous.
– Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world and is more rampant in countries with tropical climates like the Philippines.
– The Aedes mosquito is attracted to warm bodied preys so dengue actually affects more children than adults (since they love to move around)
“Dengue is a worldwide health issue. Based on WHO records, there have been 100 million dengue cases recorded and 5 percent resulted in death,” points out Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag. “Last year, the DOH recorded 204,906 dengue cases resulting in 660 deaths while in 2014, there have been 24,900 cases which have resulted in 100 deaths,” Dr. Tayag added.
What you can do to avoid Dengue:
The things that we need to do are really very simple. Just remember the 4S!
Search and Destroy
Seek early consultation
Self protection
Say yes to fogging only when there is an impending outbreak
You can read more about it HERE.
Unite Against Dengue
It’s nice to know that GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and maker of doctor-recommended Paracetamol Calpol, leads this campaign (Aksyon Laban sa Dengue: A Dengue Fever Awareness and Education Program) together with the Department of Health and the Philippine Pediatric Society. Calpol®, a product of GSK, contains Paracetamol specially designed to offer effective relief from the discomforts of pain and fever among children. Calpol® also has the broad suitability associated with standard paracetamol so you can be assured that it won’t harm your child when used as directed.
Jeoffrey Yulo, GM GSK Consumer Health, Evelyn Perez DOH Infectious Deseases Committee and Dr Sally Gatchalian, PPS Secretary
“Dengue is a clever and cunning disease,” declares Dr. Sally Gatchalian, secretary of the Philippine Pediatric Society. “It can disguise itself as other diseases. So, during the rainy season, which is when we usually see an increase of dengue cases, it is important to be on the lookout for fever that is at least of two days duration”.
I’m a mom and every time any of the members of my family get sick, we drink paracetamol right away. Fever is one of the signs of dengue, but aside from that, it also comes with headaches, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, muscle and joint aches, rashes, and bleeding manifestations. During the time I had dengue, I had really high fever first for four days with really bad headache (I wanted to slam my head against the wall). I had the rashes though a week after my platelets went back to normal. Paracetamol really helped manage the fever and helped with the pain. I can’t imagine how children with dengue must be feeling, and I think giving them Calpol will really help ease the pain.
Engaging the Barangays
Not everyone has the sane kind of access to information that we have. It’s good that DOH, PPS and GlaxoSmithKline, (Paracetamol Calpol) will be going to selected barangays within Metro Manila with identified high cases of dengue incidence to spread the news on how to eliminate dengue.
The DOH will initially be facilitating the training of health practitioners to discuss new dengue incidence and disease trends as well as updates on its prevention and treatment guidelines. The PPS health committee will then cascade these dengue modules based on DOH guidelines with the selected barangays. On its part, GSK will be bringing doctors to these areas to lead the Dengue information campaign to help Filipinos protect their families and loved ones from this deadly menace.
“You can protect your loved ones by knowing more about this debilitating disease, its prevention and management. At the onset of dengue-related symptoms immediately seek the advice of your family physician. In cases of fever, (paracetamol) Calpol® is the Filipino mom’s partner in providing effective , soothing fever relief that is suitable for children.” adds Yulo. “And because nothing works faster on fever than the Paracetamol in Calpol®, you are assured of your child going back to his normal, playful self again”.
Mommy Ginger and other moms taking their commitment against Dengue
I’m doing what I can in spreading the word about how Dengue is such a serious disease. Let’s all try to spread the news about how we can eliminate dengue.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor. For more information about (Paracetamol) Calpol®, and its Dengue campaign, visit www.calpol.com.ph or like on Facebook at http://facebook.com/CalpolPH
