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Dengue Season: Tips to Avoid Dengue at Home

Admin
July 27, 2022


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Are you ready for the rainy season, mommies?

 

The start of the rainy season also signals the start of the dengue season in the Philippines. It’s important to keep a close eye on our loved ones and our environment to make sure that there is little to no risk of getting dengue. 

 

What is Dengue?

 

Dengue is a disease caused by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. They thrive in dark places, and breed in stagnant water in subtropical and tropical areas like the Philippines. Metamorphosis of this mosquito usually takes around 10 to 12 days and they usually bite an hour or two before sunset. Unfortunately, dengue is endemic across all the regions in the country which puts children and adults alike at a higher risk of getting the disease. 

 

 

Dengue Symptoms

 

Dengue can be life-threatening without early detection and treatment. Watch for the following symptoms and seek immediate consultation if you or a loved one is experiencing any of them: 

 

  • High fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Skin flushing
  • Bleeding (nose, gums, stool, or urine) 

Do not self-diagnose. Seek help from a professional to determine whether you have Dengue. Do not delay if you’re experiencing high fever, as it is the most common symptom of the disease and cannot be ignored. 

 

How To Prevent Dengue? 

 

While Dengue is hard to avoid – especially if you are in an area where mosquitos are endemic, there are things that you can do to prevent your loved ones from contracting the disease. 

 

This Dengue season, it’s important to know ways how you can prevent dengue to ensure the safety of your loved ones. Here are some tips on preventing a Dengue outbreak at home even  off-season: 

 

Stop Dengue At The Source

 

Dengue-carrying mosquitos breed and thrive in stagnant water. Hence, reducing their habitats will also lessen their presence in the home. Make sure that you clean out any water-containing objects such as tires, pots, and water bowls, among others, to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. 

 

Image from Caricom

 

Empty out and clean any water container that can be used as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Make it a habit to regularly clean your house as well to make sure that there is no area where water can stagnate.

 

Do Not Keep Water Plants Inside The House

 

Water plants such as Philodendrons, Pothos, Spider Plants, and Caladiums, can give mosquitos a breeding ground as indoor water vases are prone to stagnation. It’s best to keep them in an area away from your kids, or change the water in the vases frequently. 

 

Use Insect Repellent

 

Using insect repellents helps prevent mosquitoes from biting you or your loved ones. It’s recommended to use mosquitos that are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered and have ingredients such as DEET, Icaridin (or Picaridin), and Oil of lemon eucalyptus – among others. 

 

Image from Nature

 

For toddlers and infants, you can opt to use a mosquito patch or mosquito bands. This is especially helpful if your toddler has sensitive skin and can’t be exposed to lotion or spray-based repellents yet. 

 

Invest in a Mosquito Net 

 

For families with children, investing in a mosquito net might be a good idea to ward off the insects and Dengue-carrying mosquitoes. You can use mosquito nets at night to prevent insect bites when you sleep. Just make sure that you check your nets beforehand to make sure that they have no holes and are properly sealed. 

 

Keep Your House Well-Lit 

 

As mentioned, mosquitoes tend to favor environments that are dark and damp, hence, you might want to consider making sure that your home is filled with sunlight. Ensure that areas, where your loved ones – especially kids – spend the most time in, is well-lit. You can also light up and use incense as a way to ward off mosquitos – just make sure that they are out of reach from children. 

 

It also helps to do regular checks around the house to make sure that everything is clean. While it’s advised to clean around the house every week, you might want to up the frequency of your cleaning during the Dengue season to make sure that you leave no areas unchecked.

 

Always remember to stay safe and when symptoms begin to appear, seek the help of a medical professional immediately. 

 

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