Measles

Measles

What is measles and why is it dangerous?

Measles is a highly contagious disease which is caused by a virus called Paramyxovirus (from genus Morbillivirus). This disease mostly affects the respiratory system of the children. The transmission of the virus is airborne and through direct contract with infected person that is why t spreads easily and rapidly.

There are numbers of complications on children who suffer from measles which includes: pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, deafness, ear infection, diarrhea and dehydration.

Measles and its complications are severe illness that can cause death on the infected person.

Who are the people that can be infected with measles?

• Those who are not vaccinated against measles regardless of age, whether young or old.
• Those children who were vaccinated but not injected with boaster vaccine may still be infected as they may not necessarily develop enough protection against measles.
• Those who thought that they had already infected with measles because of like symptoms but actually those where other diseases like rashes which maybe mistaken for measles.

What are the most common signs and symptoms of measles?

An infected person or child with measles usually has blotchy rashes all over the body for 3 days or even more. Also, she/he has fever and any one or all of the following:

• Cough
• Runny nose
• Reddish eyes

How do you prevent measles?

Measles can be prevented through measles vaccination starting 9 months of age.

My child has already received vaccine against measles. Is she exempted from being infected with measles?
NO. The measles vaccine she gets again will increase her protection against measles.

My child had measles previously, is he exempted from being vaccinated again?

NO. There are many conditions that are mistaken as measles-like diseases. The vaccination will not harm a child and will even serve to increase his immunity against measles.

Is there any overdose, if my child receives this measles vaccine again?

NONE. What has been received by your child are Antibodies. These antibodies will live in the blood and will provide protection against the disease but it decreases as the child grows older. Please note that there is no vaccine overdose for the measles vaccine so it will not do any harm to your child. Because the measles vaccines are antibodies they are even known as to enhancer to the overall immunity against other diseases.

What are the common effects to my child after receiving the measles immunization?

Nothing so far but some children may experience slight fever which usually last for 1 to 2 days from day of vaccination.

When slight fever will occur, the best thing with you child is to give Paracetamol medication to be taken every four hours. To lower the temperature and avoid dehydration you must give you child plenty of fluids. Just continue the breastfeeding of you child (if you are on breastfeeding) and make sure the child gets enough sleep and rest to avoid stress.

Post vaccination notes

Please be reminded that all children who turn 9-11 months must receive one dose of the measles vaccine together with the vaccines against other diseases of childhood like polio, diphtheria, pertussis, etc.

You must report to the health centers / health workers is you suspect that you child is having measles to be properly attended.

And in return the health workers who receive reports of suspected measles must investigate the case/s for accurate statistics and avoid and/or prevent the spread of the disease in the early stage.

Leprosy

Leprosy

What is leprosy?

Leprosy is a chronic and infectious disease that mainly affects nerves and skin of human infected people. It is primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae or the commonly called M. leprae which looks like a rod in shape bacillus.

How to minimize if not eliminate the stigma and discrimination of people who are infected by leprosy?

First, we should never define the infected people through their disease and never call them by the derogatory word “lepers”. We should never look down these people and their families. Instead we should give them and their families the needed support and accepting them for who and what they are in equilibrium with our treatment with other people. We should always bear in our minds the every person in this universe is create and born equal, with the same human rights and dignity.

How long will leprosy eventually disappear?

Leprosy requires a lengthy period of incubation which is about or between five (5) to twenty (20) years depending on the patient’s condition. Surveys said that the incidence of leprosy is diminishing a years go by. There are only fair number of new cases are diagnosed and like to grow less and less.

Will a person that has already body deformities can still be cured of leprosy?

General the leprosy disease can still be cured at any point of the stages of the illness. When we cured, it means that all the bacteria in the body that are causing the leprosy disease were totally eliminated and killed, thus stopping the infection. Only the bacteria can be all killed and terminated. However, the damaged and deformities in the body can not be anymore restored. It is because the leprosy is detected and treated only after permanent damages in the nerve damage has occurred and this is irreversible. The residual disabilities and deformities will be left as the proof of the disease. The disability or deformity can be prevented when the disease will be diagnosed in the early stage and treatment has been promptly and properly administered. Please note that any of the residual disabilities and deformities of leprosy will not be anymore a source of leprosy infection to another person.

How can anyone extend help in fighting against leprosy?

We are well informed and we have to recognize that leprosy is curable. The treatment of leprosy is provided free. It is a very wrong habit of stigmatizing people who are infected with leprosy. All we have to do is spread the message, the information about leprosy to our fellowmen so that they will be also knowledgeable about this disease and won’t look down those infected people.

Bacteria that Cause Leprosy

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae or leprosy bacilli.

What is the mode of transmission of Leprosy?

The mode of transmission of Leprosy is through the air. It can be transmitted via the droplets coming from the nose and/or the mouth of the infected person who is not yet treated by way of close or frequent contact with the carrier.

Mode of Transmission

Airborne: inhalation of droplet/spray from coughing and sneezing of untreated leprosy patient

What are the basic signs and symptoms of leprosy?

The appearance of the patches on the skin is the first sign of leprosy. These patches on the skin are usually accompanied by numbness or loss of sensation in the areas affected.

Here are the basic signs and symptoms appearing on the person with leprosy:

• There will be a long standing skin lesions on the infection person that do not disappear with ordinary treatment
• The infected person will loss of feeling/numbness on the skin
• There will be loss of sweating and hair growth over the skin lesions on the infected person.
• There will be thickened and/or painful nerves in the neck, forearm, near elbow joint and the back of knees of the infected person.

Where can infected people ask for immediate treatment?

Basically the most possible and immediate way for the leprosy to be diagnosed in an infected person is through the nearest health center or health post as leprosy services have been integrated with general health services.

Immediate Treatment

The immediate treatment for Leprosy is Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT). The patient must go to the nearest health center for prompt treatment.

Prevention and Control of Leprosy

• All Leprosy cases should be treated in order to prevent spread of infection
• The young children should avoid direct contact with untreated patients
• People should always observe and practice personal hygiene
• People should maintain body resistance by healthful living through good nutrition, enough rest and exercises, and clean healthy environment

Is leprosy the same as Hansen’s disease?

Yes, the other name for leprosy is Hansen’s disease. It was named after the Norwegian doctor who discovered the M. leprae bacillus in 1873, who is Dr. G.A. Hansen. The use of the word “leper” is derogatory that is why Hansen’s disease is preferably used instead of leprosy in other countries like Brazil, Japan and the United States.

Is leprosy considered a very infectious disease?

Sometime, the leprosy disease is called the least infectious disease and this is contrary to the beliefs of many people. More than 85% of leprosy cases are noninfectious and do not spread the disease. Over 99% of people have a natural immunity or resistance to leprosy.

Is leprosy widespread?

There are about less than 300,000 people develop leprosy each year as per current reports. Also, there are more than 15 million people around the world have been cured of the disease since the MDT has been introduced in the early 1980s. Today, leprosy remains to be public health problem in some countries but it is only a handful.

What are there reasons, if any, in the isolation people with leprosy?

No. There is no medical or social justification as of today for isolating people infected with leprosy. People with leprosy can still continue with their normal way of life while they are receiving treatment. It would only stigmatize and reinforce age-old prejudices about the disease attempts of isolating people with leprosy.

Is treatment for leprosy expensive?

Treatment for leprosy costs nothing to the patient. The World Health Organization (WHO) has supplied MDT free to all patients in the world, initially with funding provided by The Nippon Foundation, and subsequently through MDT donated by Novartis and the ovartis Foundation for Sustainable Development whose medical support started since 1995.

How does leprosy lead to body deformities?

Leprosy can caused damages to the nerve of the infected person together with the other complications if it is not treated immediately on the early stage it was diagnosed.

The patients with leprosy lose their nerve feelings and together with the other complications. The patients with leprosy lose their feelings in their hands and feet, and then their muscles become paralyzed because the nerves supplying them have been impaired. Festering wounds or ulcers and susceptible to injuries are the results on people with leprosy disease. These deformed effects are not caused by the leprosy germs but by other organisms that brought about the secondary infections.

Malaria

Malaria

What is malaria?

Malaria is dangerous killer disease which is caused by protozoan parasites. This protozoan parasite is known as Plasmodium. The mode of transmission of this disease is through bite of infected female mosquito which is called Anopheles.

Mode of Transmission of Malaria:

• Through blood transfusion (If the blood is positive for malaria parasites)
• Through sharing of IV needles (this is common among IV drug users)
• Through transplacenta (If the mother is positive for malaria parasites the unborn child in her womb will be infected too)

What are the common signs and symptoms of malaria?

• The patient chills
• There is high fever
• There is too much sweating when fever subsides
• There is Headache

What are the common species of malaria parasites in the Philippines?

The Four (4) Species of Malaria Parasites:

• Plasmodium falciparum
• Plasmodium vivax
• Plasmodium malariae
• Plasmodium ovale

In the Philippines, 70% of malaria parasites cases are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and 30% by Plasmodium vivax. It is also estimated that 1% of the total malaria cases is due to Plasmodium malariae.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria, can lead to severe malaria, such as cerebral malaria if not treated immediately. Plasmodium vivax malaria on the other hand causes relapse if treatment was not completed. It does not lead to cerebral malaria.

What is the carrier of malaria parasites?

Not all mosquitoes are carrier of malaria parasites. In the Philippines, only the adult female Anopheles mosquitoes that were infected with malaria parasites carry, transfer and infect people by biting. Before the mosquito becomes infected, the malaria parasites undergo through the phases of developmental stages inside the adult female mosquito. After all those stages, that’s the time where the mosquito becomes infective with malaria parasites. The Anopheles mosquitoes breed in clear water of slow flowing streams that are found in remote mountainous or forested areas. Also in areas of brackish water (brackish water is where salt and fresh water meet). The Anopheles mosquito bites during evening until dawn commonly in coastal areas where they multiply rapidly.

People who are risk of having malaria

• The children
• The pregnant women
• The indigenous peoples
• The people who work in forest like miners and soldiers
• The people who travel to a malarious area

How can a person become infected with malaria?

When an infective Anopheles mosquito bites a person it transfers the malaria parasite and get him/her infected.

Can malaria parasite be transmitted to person by drinking water with mosquito eggs in the streams?
No. The malaria parasite can’t be transmitted by drinking water that has mosquito eggs in it because the parasite will pass through its development stages inside the adult female mosquito.

How is the presence of malaria throughout the country?

In the Philippines, malaria is endemic certain numbers of municipalities in the 63 provinces.

In the endemic areas, will the people living there continue to get sick of malaria?
A partial immunity to malaria may be developed on the people who are living in endemic areas.

The person with malaria parasite may not manifest the common signs and symptoms but can be examined through blood smear. Using the microscope, the malaria parasites can be seen if present in the blood smear of the person.

Treatment for malaria

There are appropriate anti-malarial medicines for treating malaria. However, the blood smear must be tested first on what malaria species has infected the patient. A blood smear has to be done to find out what particular species is present in the patient’s blood in order to properly prescribe the complete the dosage of the anti-malarial medicine for the patient.

Is there any vaccine to fight against malaria?

None. There is no vaccine against malaria that has been discovered at the moment. But medical experts have continuous research and development on vaccine for malaria.

How to prevent malaria, what are precautionary measures against this disease?

For those living in a malarious area

• They must sleep inside an insecticide-treated mosquito net every night.
• They must put screen on their windows and doors (only if their family can afford to do so) or in the sleeping area.
• They must wear long sleeves and long pants during night time activities.
• They must use insect repellant during night time activities.
• They must promptly consult the nearest health authorities and facility if they are experiencing symptoms of malaria and complete the medications as instructed. Do not self-medicate.

For persons going to a malaria endemic area

• They must consult the Provincial Health Office or Rural Health Unit of the province/area for medical advice.
• Chemoprophylaxis is given as follows:
• o Doxycycline 100 mg daily for 2 – 3 days before going to an endemic area, continue while in the endemic area and continue for 4 more weeks after leaving the endemic area.

NOTE: Doxycycline is not suitable and should not be given to pregnant women and children 8 years old and below.

NOTE: Taking chemoprophylaxis is not 100% assurance that one will not get sick of malaria. You must be extra careful while you are staying in an endemic area and should execute other personal protective measures against malaria infection.

• Their must preferably install screen on their windows and doors of sleeping quarters are screened. Or else they must sleep inside an insecticide-treated mosquito net or inside a conventional mosquito net every night if screens were not installed.
• They must always wear long sleeves and long pants during night time activities.
• They must also use insect repellant during night time activities.
• They must consult a physician and inform to inform that they went to a malaria endemic area and has stayed there for several days (history of travel to an endemic area) so that a blood smear will be taken, in case they develop or show signs and symptoms of malaria while in the area or after coming form an endemic area.

Filariasis

Lymphatic Filariasis

What is Lymphatic Filariasis?

Lymphatic Filariasis is an infection inside the lymphatic which is caused the parasites the live there. Filariasis is the disease which is transmitted when bitten by infected mosquitoes that carries the parasites.

What drugs can protect us against Filariasis?

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate combined with Albendazole is the mass treatment drugs that can protect us from being infected by filariasis. This shall be taken once a year for 5 consecutive years. This is so because of the filaricidal effects of the combined drugs. It has also effects on the intestinal helminthes that are usually present among children and even adults.

What’s the reason for taking the drugs for five (5) consecutive years?

The microfilaria or the baby filarial parasites that are found in the peripheral blood of human beings should be suppressed in order to minimize or prevent its transmission. However, the suppression of microfilarimia is a lengthy process that’s why administering of drugs should be long term as five consecutive years.

Who are the people that should take the mass treatment drugs?

The people staying in the place which has been long affected by the disease should take the mass treatment drugs. This includes people of all ages except for pregnant, children below 2 years old and those who are very ill.

What are the side effects of the mass treatment drugs?

The drugs have only mild effects on the persons infected with filariasis. This is usually felt by the infected persons because of the death of the microfilaria or the baby filarial parasites. The filariasis infected persons who are taking mass treatment drugs may feel abdominal pain and nausea; vomiting and dizziness; headache and fever; rashes and skin roughness; and present of pass out worms in their stool of some children. These are the common side effects but can be manageable if symptoms appear.

What are the effects of MDA when taken by sick persons?

Infection persons should take MDA pills even they have mild illness. However, they should discontinue taking the drugs in case of some complication such as kidney and/ or heart failure.

Cautions on MDA pills when taken by pregnant women

It is safe to administer Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole as treatment to pregnant women. However, the treatment must be delayed until the women have already given birth.

Cautions on MDA pills when taken by lactating mothers

Yes, it is safe, however to avoid any incident that may be blamed to the MDA it is advised to stop breastfeeding for 72 hours after taking the pills.

Schedule for taking the MDA pills
In the Philippine, the MDA is scheduled every November of each year as per the Executive Order 369 of 2004 that was signed by the President.

Who were authorized to give the drugs?

In each place, there were authorized and assigned people who will give the drugs as such: health staff, personnel sellers, trained volunteers and Barangay Health Workers.

What is the manner of giving or delivering the drugs?

The drugs will be delivered by the assigned people by house to house, health centers, health fairs and other fixed sites that will be announced to the public.

Are the MDA pills medically approved?

MDA pills are both approved the international and local medical /health authorities. The American Food and Drug Administration and BFAD have approval for Albendazole as treatment worm. While Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) has been here in the Philippines since 1950 for treatment of filariasis.

Ebola Reston Virus

Ebola Reston Virus

What is Ebola Reston strain?

Four subtypes of Ebola virus:

• Ebola Zaire
• Ebola Sudan
• Ebola Ivory Coast
• Ebola Reston

The 3 subtypes of Ebola virus have hemorrhagic causing symptoms and Reston is not.

In some other countries Ebola Reston virus was not found even in animal. However in the Philippines in the years 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1996, the Ebola Reston was found among Philippine monkeys. And most recently in 2008, for the first time in the history the virus was found among sick swine in the Philippines.

How do Ebola Viruses affect humans?
The three subtypes of Ebola virus (Zaire, Sudan and Ivory Coast) were dangerous only Reston has mild effect as there’s no concrete evidence that it can significant illness in human being. Reston has mild signs and symptoms with the few infected animal handlers when it was found in the monkeys in the Philippines.

Is pork safe to be eaten?
Yes, it is safe to eat pork provided the meat has been prepared properly and cooked thoroughly. The viruses including Reston can be inactivated with proper cooking of meat. We must all practice proper hygiene and sanitation in our own kitchen. We must handle all food properly starting from the raw material, preparing, cooking, eating and storing them to avoid virus and bacterial infections.

Is it safe to eat pork from sick hugs?
No. It is not safe to eat pork from sick pigs. The meat of these dead sick hugs should not be eaten. They should be buried or burned to avoid the spread of viruses and bacteria. Or else, you should report the instances of sick and dead animals to proper authorities such as Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture for the proper inspection and investigation.

How can we make sure that we are buying safe pork in the market?
The public must be also vigilant about this health issue. To make sure of the safeness of the pork they should buy meat only from meat stalls that are licensed by the proper authorities. The stalls must have the certification from the National Meat Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture and the meat products must have the seal of inspection.

Important measures on how we keep can our food safe:

• We must always keep them clean
• We must wash your hands before handling food and during food preparation
• We must wash and sanitize all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation
• We must protect kitchen areas and food from insects, pests and other animals
• We must always separate raw food and cooked food
• We must separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from cooked food
• We must use separate equipment and utensils such as cutting boards for handling raw food
• We must Store food in containers to avoid contact between raw and prepared foods
• We must always cook food thoroughly
• We must cook food thoroughly especially meat, poultry, eggs and seafood
• We must bring foods like soups and stews to boiling to make sure that they have reached 700C.
• We must always make sure that meat juices are clear, not pink.
• We must reheat cooked food thoroughly
• We must keep food at safe temperatures
• We must not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours
• We must refrigerate food promptly
• We must not store food too long even in refrigerator
• We must not thaw food frozen food at room temperature
• We must always use safe water and raw materials

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

 

Questions and Answers About Dengue

 

Q. What is dengue?

A. Dengue (pronounced den' gee) is a disease caused by any one of four closely related viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, or DEN-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the most important transmitter or vector of dengue viruses, although a 2001 outbreak in Hawaii was transmitted by Aedes albopictus. It is estimated that there are over 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year.

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Dengue And Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Dengue And Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Information For Health Care Practitioners

 

Dengue is an arthropod-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related viruses. Infection with one serotype of dengue virus provides immunity to that serotype for life.

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