|
Friday, December 02, 2005
7 suspected blood illness cases in Davao; 6 die
By Joy G. Romares
DAVAO CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) has reported seven suspected cases of meningococcemia in the Davao Region this year, and six were believed to have succumbed to the bacterial disease.
Dr. Rogelio Peñera, head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu) of the DOH 11, told Sun.Star Davao that among of the six victims, two were residents of Davao City.
"In January, our office received an information about a suspected meningococcemia patient who died in Toril, the second patient was the one who died on Monday (November 28) at the Brokenshire Hospital," Peñera said.
Apple Grace Murillo, 5, of Gatdula Village in Barangay 8-A in Davao City, was suspected to have died from the contagious blood illness at Brokenshire, where she was brought to Sunday after she suffered high fever.
Meningococcemia is caused by Neisseria meningitides or bacteria that live in a person's upper respiratory tract.
Peñera said other suspected meningococcemia cases were reported in Malita and Sta. Cruz towns in Davao del Sur, one in Maco, Compostela Valley Province and two in the Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
"One of the two suspected victims who were confined at the DRH died. We are still conducting investigation about the one in Maco kung meningo ba gyud iyang gikamatyan (if the patient really died of meningococcemia), in fact mag-adto mi didto aron susihon gyud," Peñera said.
Peñera said that from 2000 to 2004, 36 victims in Davao Region were reported to have suffered of the bacterial disease.
"Actually, naa tay mga hospitals nga ginakuhaan og report anang mga cases(We get the reports from the various hospitals in the region), here in Davao City, ginakuhaan nato ang (we get reports from the) Davao Medical Center (DMC), Davao Doctors Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Brokenshire Hospital and Ricardo Limso Hospital, outside Davao City, we have Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital (Digos City), Davao Regional Hospital (Tagum City) and the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital," Peñero said.
"These hospitals submit their reports and findings to our office about the patient, so katong wala na-confine sa ilaha mao among gina-imbestigahan (so we are investigating those not confined in these hospitals)," he said.
Peñero said the symptoms of meningococcemia are similar to that of dengue fever.
"Pero ang kalahian lang, (But what is different is that) a person can quickly deteriorate and potentially die within 24-48 hours from onset of illness," he said.
DMC released an advisory on meningococcemia, saying that its signs and symptoms includes sudden onset of high fever, appearance of rushes within four hours of illness, signs of meningeal irritation like headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, bulging fontanelle, seizures, and sensorial changes.
To prevent meningococcemia, one should observe basic hygienic practices such as:
* Not sharing eating utensils, food, drink, lipstick, toothbrushes, etc.;
* Not spitting in public places, and not sneezing, coughing or blowing nose in front of people;
* Washing hands before meals, and before and after contact with patients;
* Not going to overcrowded, poorly ventilated places;
* Getting adequate rest and proper nutrition;
* Avoiding kissing lips to lips; and
* Avoid ingsending young infants and toddlers to pre-school and day care (less than 3 years old). (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(December 2, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Organizers, not Cebu City, spent for opening rites