The Healthy Juan: The 4S strategy in preventing dengue fever
The clouds are officially turning grey and we hear thunders looming everywhere. Yes, the rainy season is upon us so it's best to come prepared--raincoats, umbrellas, and our own body.
When it comes to the rainy season, there are so many things that can affect our overall health: the change in temperatures, floods, and even the littlest creatures that fly about like mosquitos that can cause dengue fever.
Dengue fever is a disease spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is caused by one of four dengue viruses.
Once you are infected with one of the three, you will develop an immunity to that virus your whole life.
However, you can still be infected with the other three viruses. So it is possible to get all four in your lifetime.
While dengue occurs nationally and year-round in the Philippines, peak transmission occurs during rainy seasons from May through November.
Just last year, the Department of Health (DOH)-Epidemiology Bureau listed 402,694 dengue cases, a 92% increase from the year before.
So what are the symptoms of dengue fever and how do you prevent it?
If you contract dengue fever, symptoms usually begin about four to seven days after the initial infection.
In many cases, symptoms will be mild and may be mistaken for symptoms of the flu or other infection. These symptoms generally last for about 10 days and can include:
- Sudden, high fever
- Severe headache
- Swollen lymph glands
- Severe joint and muscle pains
- Skin rash
- Mild to severe nausea
- Vomiting
- Mild to severe bleeding from the nose or gums
- Mild to severe bruising of the skin; and
- Febrile convulsions
The Healthy Juan suggests that if flu-like symptoms were noticed, it's best to go to the nearest hospital to have doctors check for the presence of infection.
The 4S Strategy
Based on the Department of Health, people need only remind themselves of the 4S Strategy to prevent dengue fever: Search and Destroy, Self-Protection Measures, Seek Early Consultation, and Support Fogging or Spraying.
The first strategy of “Search and Destroy” includes covering water drums and pails, replacing water in flower vases once a week, cleaning of gutters, and collecting and disposing of all unusable tin cans and jars that can collect or hold water.
Through this method, it can prevent mosquito larvae from maturing and reduce its population.
The second step is to adhere to “Self-Protection Measures” like wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and using mosquito repellant every day.
Third, DOH advises to “Seek Early Consultation.” Again, consult the doctors immediately if fever persists after two days and rashes appear on your skin.
Lastly, “Support Fogging or Spraying” done by your local government heads. If there is an impending hotspot, it's best to get rid of the cause immediately than wait for an outbreak to happen.
Remember, prevention is better than cure because there's no available vaccine to prevent dengue fever.
The best method of protection is to avoid mosquito bites and reduce its population.
Want more information on how to prevent dengue? Watch this video from The Healthy Juan: