Polio Virus outbreak - short summary

As of Sept 19, 2019, the DOH declared an "outbreak" of polio in Lanao Del Sur, a province in Mindanao. DOH also confirmed that there are polio virus samples in the sewers of Manila.

So basically, what ive gathered from my readings, you should expect generalized symptoms such as fever, cough, colds, diarrhea, and vomiting.

The warning sign is if these symptoms have accompanied one sided arm or leg weakness.

It's deadly if the patient gets paralysis of the BREATHING muscles, causing them to stop breathing.

Recovery is usually expected to start by 6 months, meaning muscle function begins to return.
If by 2 years and there is still symptoms, it will become permanent.

The most susceptible are the 5 year old and belows, especially if they dont have the polio vaccine.

Overheard in the ER

Im going to be posting some of the things ive overheard in the Emergency room:

Doctor: May lagnat anak mo. Kaya ba ng anak nyo mag tablet? (Your son has a fever. Can your son use/tolerate a tablet?)

Grandmother: yes, kayang kaya nya mag tablet. (Yes, he knows how to use a tablet)

Doctor: Sige, painumin mo tong paracetamol tablet bawat 4 na oras (Have him drink this tablet every 4 hours)

Grandmother: ay, hindi nya pa kaya lumunok ng tablet! akala ko Ipad sinasabi mo. (oh, he cant swallow tablets yet, i thought you were talking about using an Ipad!)

Dengue Fever syndrome in the philippines

what is dengue?

Dengue fever syndrome is caused by the Dengue virus. Usually caused by mosquitoes with striped legs (Aedes aegypti), which is transferred when the mosquito bites the victim.

By textbook pattern, you should have about 3 to 4 days of fever. you may develop a non-itchy rash on your body, but rash does not mean severity of symptoms or progression of infection. on the 5th or 6th day, you will no longer have fever episodes, but this is the time your platelets would drop the most. and on the 6th day onwards, your platelet count should slowly increase again and the infection will resolve.

When should you worry
when you develop any sudden bleeding episodes without any reason, or vomiting or stomach pain. You will need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What to expect when a doctor sees you:
you will most likely be ordered to undergo a blood test called a Complete Blood Count test, where they draw blood from you, to check the parameters of your blood if it looks like dengue. Usually, they will be looking at the platelet count, but doctors will also look at the different count, hematocrit and the hemogoblin count. Depending on your levels, or your symptoms, you most probably will be having repeated CBC tests done, depending on the picture of your blood and the severity of your symptoms.

Is there a test to check if it is Dengue?
There is a screening test for it, called the Dengue NS1 antigen, IgG, and IgM. The 3 tests are all drawn in one blood extraction, dont worry.

Dengue NS1 antigen is detectable in the blood in the first 1 to 3 days.
Dengue IgM is detectable in the 3-6 day.
while Dengue IgG is the marker for chronic (another term for old) dengue infections.

Usually, the doctor would order the Dengue screening test at least on the second day, unless the doctor is suspicious about the day the illness actually started.

Are there any alternative treatments to Dengue
They say you and make a concoction of boiled tawa-tawa leaves to help cure dengue. Personally, i have not seen it work.


OF COURSE, ACTUAL CONSULT WITH A DOCTOR IS WAY MORE RELIABLE THAN GOOGLING THE SICKNESS. BUT, IT ALWAYS IS GOOD TO RESEARCH AND BE PREPARED.