DOH uses D.E.N.G.U.E. against dengue

Iloilo City (1 September) — The Department of Health (DOH) has refocused its efforts in fighting dengue during its peak months by adopting strategies with the necessary guidelines that use the letters of the disease itself.

DOH spokesman and National Epidemiology Center chief Dr. Eric Tayag said DENGUE stands for the following:

Daily monitoring of the patient’s status including temperature and urinary excretion

Encourage oral fluids including Oresol

Note for any dengue warning signs such as stomach pains, difficulty in breathing, and convulsion, in the case of small children

Give paracetamol (and avoid administering aspirin which would aggravate bleeding)

Use temporarily mosquito net for patients who are recovering at home

Early consultation is advised once warning signs are detected.

Tayag said during a Malacanag press conference these guidelines will help health workers in determining dengue patients and in screening those who need to be brought to hospitals or just stay behind for home treatment, and later in making follow-up care of patients during convalescence.

The new strategies were adopted by the DOH in view of concerns of overcrowding of patients in several hospitals for possible dengue infection.

Tayag said that the screening is a foremost thing to be done at the level of health centers. (PIA 6)