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Monday, May 09, 2005
Public urged to adopt means to ward off rainy day ailments
THE City Government of Baguio has encouraged the public to take on preventive measures against diseases that commonly spread during the rainy season.
"It is important that we educate ourselves on the ways of preventing these diseases," City Health officer Florence Reyes said.
The ailments prevalent during this season include influenza, dengue fever, Hepatitis A, cholera and typhoid fever.
Reyes emphasized the importance of good nutrition, maintenance of good personal hygiene and cleanliness of the environment in preventing these illnesses. She said local residents must eat properly cooked food, eat food immediately after cooking, refrigerate leftover food and reheated these before eating, and that food handlers should wash their hands before and after food preparation.
If sick, she said food handlers should avoid preparing food for others.
Regarding drinking water, the city health officer said the public should avoid drinking water of doubtful quality. If water quality is doubtful, bring it to a boil and let it remain boiling for two minutes, she added.
"Do not wade in flood water. If unavoidable, wear protective gear. Water accumulated in old tires, tin cans, flower pots should be drained, and water storage containers should be covered to prevent them from becoming breeding sites for mosquitoes," she said.
Influenza characterized by fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, sore throat and cough can be prevented by having adequate rest and nutritious food and avoiding crowded areas and contact with patients. Immediate treatments for influenza include adequate rest, nutritious food, water, juices and Paracetamol.
For dengue fever, prescribed preventions include the cleaning and covering of water storage containers to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, the installation of screens on doors and windows, as well as the use of mosquito nets and insecticides. Suspected cases must not be given aspirin for fever and must be brought to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.
Hepatits A can be prevented by washing hands after using the toilet, before preparing food, before eating and after proper disposal of human wastes. Shellfish from water contaminated with human waste should be thoroughly cooked for at least four minutes or steamed for 90 seconds before eating.
Although there is no specific medicine or shorten the course of the illness, sick persons should be isolated and be advised to rest and to take plenty of fluids while avoiding fatty food.
Cholera can be prevented by drinking only potable water, keeping food away from insects, washing and cooking food properly, proper waste disposal, proper use of toilet facilities, and by keeping surroundings clean to prevent flies and other insects and rodents from breeding. The immediate treatment for this disease includes the ingestion of oral rehydration solution or a homemade solution composed of one teaspoon of salt and four teaspoonfuls of sugar mixed with one litter of water.
Typhoid fever can be controlled through proper hand washing, the proper disposal of wastes, the maintenance of clean surroundings, the boiling of drinking water, the proper washing and cooking of food and the avoidance of street food. (Aileen P. Refuerzo)
(May 9, 2005 issue)
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