WOWBatangas.com Your Source of Great News and Stories from the Province of Batangas, Philippines
Related Articles
During the rainy season, dengue cases strike up, causing alarm to many of us. Young and old, anybody can get inflicted by the dengue virus.
It was Saturday, June 15, when I had a terrible headache and backache shortly after coming home from a family outing. The next day, I got an on and off fever, always at 39°C. The headache and backache continued until Monday without the high fever.
Tuesday, I decided to go to Mary Mediatrix Medical Center to consult a doctor with what’s happening to me. At first, I suspected it was another urinary tract infection (UTI) because of the high fever and the back pain (particularly in the lower back area). So I had urinalysis.
But the result of the urinalysis reflected no signs of infection. The doctor’s assistant told me to have complete blood count (CBC) and he then reminded me that it’s dengue season again. By that time, my temperature was 38°C.
So I went to the laboratory and had my CBC. It reflected below normal white blood cells and platelet count. Dra. Hope Martinez-Leynes told me to return the following day for repeat CBC.
I returned Wednesday with my CBC results which reflected even lower platelet count. Because I was feeling weak then, Dra. Hope ordered that I get admitted in the hospital for 2-3 days so they can monitor my platelet count and make sure that the viral infection will not transform into a feared dengue case.
The symptoms of dengue according to Wikipedia are sudden-onset fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and rashes. I had all these except for the rash. Some even have milder symptoms like high fever only while others may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
I was told that if I don’t get fever for the next three days since the day of admission, I can be discharged even if the platelet count is still lower than normal. That was what happened. I had to be admitted so I can get enough hydration with all the oral fluid and the bags of intravenous fluid I needed to consume.
It was also an advice I had to take to drink the concoction of this herb called “tawa tawa”. Each time I drink it, hindi ako natatawa. Haha. Napapasimangot ako. But I had no choice because they say it can help me combat the virus or boost my platelet count, I don’t exactly know which one.
Water, fluid that has electrolytes, fruit juices, these liquids will stop the viral infection from worsening. No medication in particular, just more than enough fluid intake.
Now, I’m getting paranoid when I see a mosquito flying around near me. And I freak out when one bites me! But really, that’s the first step in preventing yourself from the dengue virus – shoo away and kill the carrier, Aedes aegypti.
Making your immune system strong is another significant preventive measure. Our body has its own army of soldiers to fight infections or any disease that may harm our system. If the army becomes feeble, our body becomes susceptible to falling down to illnesses.
Now I clearly understand the old line that health is wealth. 😉
Photo credit: www.costaricantimes.com
