GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, Head of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) SCCSKSARGEN encouraged the public to seek early consultation when experiencing symptoms of dengue to avoid fatality caused by this mosquito-borne disease.

 “Ang dengue kasi natin is meron tayong tinatawag na three phases of dengue: the first phase is the febrile phase, second phase is the critical phase, and the last phase is the convalescence or the recovery phase. Lahat ng dengue cases dadaanan sa tatlong phases ng dengue. Hindi pwedeng febrile ka lang hindi ka dadaan sa critical, dadaan  tayong lahat sa critical,” she explained during the PIA Kapihan last June 22 at SM City General Santos.

Febrile stage, she said, is the time when a patient has high fever and also the best time to visit the hospital as during this stage the protein of dengue virus can still be detected in the patient’s blood.

She added that the decrease of platelet happens during the critical phase because low platelet means bleeding that might lead to shock or even death.

“Kaya febrile stage pa lang lagi naming sinasabihan ang mga patients namin even in our communities and public health na talagang within 2-7 days pag may on and off fever na yung patient kailangan na talaga tayong magpa check ng dugo natin para malaman natin kung bumaba ba yung platelet natin or di kaya yung WBC or yung tinatawag na puting dugo natin at para ma manage tayo,” she said.

Parayao explained that dengue virus is “self-limiting” so there is no need for antibiotic.

“Kaya pagdating nyo sa ospital binibigyan  lang kayo ng IV fluids, pinapainom lang kayo ng maraming tubig, kung nasusuka kayo bigyan lang kayo ng gamot na antiemetic, pag may fever kayo binibigyan lang kayo ng paracetamol. Supportive care lang po kasi yang dengue ang importante dyan is hydration, kaya fluid intake or IV fluid,” she said.

However, she clarified that a patient must be admitted in a health facility or hospital to monitor his or her blood in order to prevent shock once the platelet started to decrease.

“After that stage, 24-72 hours na bumaba ang platelet mo, tataas na naman at babalik ka na, mag-stabilize na ang iyong vital signs, yung iyong health status, so dyan na yung recovery stage,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Parayao disclosed that based on their Dengue Surveillance Report the region has a total of 2,719 cases from January 1 to June 18, 2022.

These are “1,137 from North Cotabato; 544 dengue cases in South Cotabato; 229 cases from General Santos City; and 294 cases from Sultan Kudarat province."

As to the number of death, Parayao said, the region has recorded a total of 23 dengue deaths and majority of the death cases came from North Cotabato.

 “For General Santos City we have a total of 7 dengue deaths; for North Cotabato we have 9 dengue death cases; Sarangani 1; South Cotabato 4; and Sultan Kudarat province with 2 deaths.” (PGFruylan/PIA-SarGen)