Dengue, a problem we have to deal with
By louievill
@louievill (28851)
Philippines
August 21, 2011 10:50am CST
Dengue fever is all around the news in our country today, no different but seems that it is on the rise by a lot more percentage wise, for the information of everyone, dengue is a mosquito borne disease more common in tropical countries. So many deaths especially children, we hear it in the news everyday and there is already a shortage of blood (especially platelets because dengue is hemorrahgic fever and causes so much bleeding in advanced cases).So many dengue hot spots now in the country and a lot in Metro Manila.
Now Filipino mylotters, how do you keep your family safe from the disease?I apply mosquito repelant to my children all the time, spray bug spray ( but this also kills lizards and spiders that are natural mosquito predators), did general cleaning and burned dried leaves. How about you? What do you do as preventive? Does dengue affect you in where you are right now especially Filipinos? Can you suggest preventive measures?
Now for foreign friends, do you also have insect borne diseases in where you are? What do you do to at least control them?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@nytrisco (567)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
Good topic louievill. Here in Valenzuela at my uncle's place where I usually stay, there are plenty of open canals here and stagnant waters. We can't hardly eradicate mosquitoes here even inside the house, I really don't know how could they enter the house where all of the windows are screen protected. Thankfully all of us here have not get any dengue for the past 24 years of our lives yet. But since I really hate when they bite me especially in the middle of the night, so what I do is apply some insect repellant on my skin before I go to sleep. You could also try the mosquito trap that was invented by some Chinese grade school, just search the net about it. It is all about the mixture of sugar, yeast and warm water in a PEP bottle. I tried it before and it works.
@nytrisco (567)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
try this, www.diyhappy.com/quick-and-dirty-mosquito-trap
Try to change some measurements because the first time I created it, it didn't work. But after a trial and error, it works eventually. And it wasn't Chinese, it was Taiwanese students who invented it.
You're right, I think 60% of structures here are industrial factories. Actually the hot spot areas of Valenzuela is far from where my uncle's place is located. His place is surrounded by huge factories but the compound is huge and filled with tall coconut and mango trees and plants. I was thinking, one of the reason why we don't have dengue cases here in this area is because of the factories. Dengue mosquitoes loves to breed near human dwellings and lay their eggs mostly in clean water, free from other organism that could kill the eggs. Since most factories around here expel there liquid waste and sometimes toxic wastes directly into the canals that mosquito eggs instantly die because of the toxins and strong chemicals in the water. Lol.
@nytrisco (567)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
So that's where a Chinese school here in Manila got their name, Chiang Kai Sek. Thanks for the new knowledge! =) Anyway, few years back when I was a freshman in college, someone told me about this conflict of Taiwan wanted to become a new entity or country but China wouldn't allow it because China only see Taiwan as her province.
I guess your right, but without the males, female mosquito won't be able to produce eggs. Might as well kill them both. =)
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
yes Taiwan and Mainland China are all Chinese, but this is quite a sensitive issue, Taiwan is an Island where the Komintang party headed by Chiang Kai Sek retreated after their defeat from Mao Tse Tung in the mainland China. China upto now considers Taiwan simply as a rebel province that belongs to China, whereas Taiwan considers themselves as a seperate and independent nation or Republic , so the issue is very sensitive to both of them.
yes pesky at least those that hover in the head do not bite or carry the disease
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Aug 11
There is no dengue in France, except in three tropical oversea departments -- Guyana, Guadeloupe and Martinique -- and in New Caledonia. A lot of money is spent to kill mosquito larvae with some success -- In France also : I did not saw a mosquito this year, while we were infested when I was a child --, but need to be done again every year and never kill all mosquitoes : I am not sure there is a completely efficient preventive solution at a state level.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
I'm glad to hear that friend and I'm fascinated that mosquitoes are so rare in your country, my god in the Philippines there is no such thing as a rich or poor community when it comes to mosquitoes, seems to be everywhere
, so what's the common insect borne disease out there? I hope there's none
, so what's the common insect borne disease out there? I hope there's none1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Aug 11
I suppose that they are more easy to eradicate in a non tropical country where they can live only in summer. There are still some in wet areas, but a lot less than 30 years ago, because larvae are killed every year. Our mosquitoes don't give any disease, except that they hurt and are not good for tourism. But 80000 persons had dengue in Martinique and Guadeloupe last year, so it is also a serious problem in tropical departments, and there is also chikungunya in Reunion, which is not better than dengue
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. But 80000 persons had dengue in Martinique and Guadeloupe last year, so it is also a serious problem in tropical departments, and there is also chikungunya in Reunion, which is not better than dengue.@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
besides dengue we also have Malaria, but it's more common in the uplands and mountainous regions so it's encountered more by mountain climbers and the adventurous.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
yes, very good, vitamin c is one medicine or vitamin we can take as prevention, if you have a strong body and sound immune system, sometimes symptoms to not manifest or have no effect even if you are bitten by the dengue mosquito, the body gets rid of the virus before it can do anything. Those already showing signs or symptoms are also administered vitamin c to prevent the disease from proceeding to the higher and more dangerous stages. Good post, thank you.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16576)
• China
22 Aug 11
Dengue is also called Dengue hemorrhagic fever caused by the dengue virus which is spreaded by the Anopheles(Aedes).Here It occurs in Guangdong province at times early autumn.We mainly adopt the measure of killing mosquito .
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
Nice to hear from your situation over there in China my friend, what measures do you adopt to kill the mosquitoes? I bought mosquito electric zappers shaped like a tennis racket made in your country, very effective
, hope we Asians affected by the disease can have a conference or knowledge sharing so we can better combat dengue
, hope we Asians affected by the disease can have a conference or knowledge sharing so we can better combat dengue1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
the zappers made in China cost only around 4 dollars here (very cheap and effective) Mosquitoes usually converge and fly in circles when it's about to turn dark, think it's the time they mate or something,, that's when I ambush them with the zappers, exploding insect bodies and the smell is terrible, it can also be used to zap flies if you are fast enough, it's good exercise too
Chinese migrants to the country also taught us to make " katol" or mosquito coil , I think it is similar to your incense, the only thing sometimes the children are sensitive to the smell and the smoke somewhat causes pollution so we use that more outdoor or when we go camping.
Chinese migrants to the country also taught us to make " katol" or mosquito coil , I think it is similar to your incense, the only thing sometimes the children are sensitive to the smell and the smoke somewhat causes pollution so we use that more outdoor or when we go camping.@changjiangzhibin89 (16576)
• China
22 Aug 11
Good idea!We use the mosquito electric zappers too.I am glad that it does work over there.In addition,we light mosquito-repellent incense and put up the mosquito net that is stuck to the door .
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
here in cebu, there are only a few cases of dengue in our hospital. this is because of the widespread information drive on how to prevent dengue. the students were not allowed to bring vases anymore and i think monthly the schools are having a cleaning drive. at the first sign of fever, parents will then bring their children to the hospital for check up.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
Cebu is a clean city because it is tourism Oriented, the people are hard working, disciplined and "maagap" (they act on the first sign of a problem)so I would not be surprised that Cebu has very few cases, If you are planning to visit the Philippines, visit Cebu
@fantabulus (4000)
• India
15 Aug 12
Not only in your country but I think this problem is everywhere in all countries. We cant handle this problem only take some precautions like burn the mosquitoes coil.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
15 Aug 12
it's more prevalent here in Asia, so that means our countries.
@sweetmary86 (822)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
i saw in the news the outbreak of dengue in some places and we have to keep our surroundings clean get rid of those stagnant waters esp. during the rainy season. the person positive with dengue fever the platelet which is the component of blood responsible for clotting will decrease which risks the patient for bleeding. thats why when the case is severe we need to do blood transfusion. we have to do sprays and protective lotions.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
good, I hope those of us who are healthy enough would consider donating blood so the disease does not drain our blood banks and we have ample supply when the need arises.
@goggles213 (735)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
I've been buying mosquito patches and insect repellants nowadays to prevent dengue from infecting my family. I've also made sure that there are no places where water could be stuck around the house. I'm also trying to find a plant that a natural insect repellant to keep. With the rising cases of dengue nowadays, it is quite alarming especially if you have kids.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
hello, I think citronella and the Indian neem tree are good natural mosquito repellents, yes it is more dangerous to children whereas adults seem to have a higher resistance.
@diannewendelyn (10)
•
21 Aug 11
Dengue is so dangerous. That is why here in Laguna, we mange to clean all the gutters as well as the canals to avoid the larvae.
I am just wondering why some public schools all over the Philippines patronize the method of smoking the place? I think it just pushes the mosquitoes away and let them propagate on another place. It cannot kill the mosquitoes at all.
I always spray "Baygon" all over the house to make sure that no mosquitoes can bite me. We also changed the paint of our walls and made it lighter so that mosquitoes will rarely live there. As far as I know, mosquitoes love dark places. We also refrained from hanging our clothes because it can just start dark places inside the closet.
However, the best way to prevent dengue is by maintaining the surroundings dry and clean always.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
yes Laguna, very beautiful province and very near our city,it's tropical paradise without going very far , clean all waterways, that is also what we do here in Las pinas that's why we are not yet a hot spot when it comes to metro Manila cities. Smoking? is that the defogging machine?
Baygon is good brand of bug spray, the only thing it also kills friendly bugs like spiders and sometimes even lizards. I agree that mosquitoes seem to be attracted more to dark colors, hanging clothes outside can sometimes pose a danger because when you bring them in, there might be an adult mosquito clinging
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, clean all waterways, that is also what we do here in Las pinas that's why we are not yet a hot spot when it comes to metro Manila cities. Smoking? is that the defogging machine?
Baygon is good brand of bug spray, the only thing it also kills friendly bugs like spiders and sometimes even lizards. I agree that mosquitoes seem to be attracted more to dark colors, hanging clothes outside can sometimes pose a danger because when you bring them in, there might be an adult mosquito clinging.