https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb en-us Stalling malaria's deadly path https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=181 Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:43:47 GMT https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=181
"Usually mosquito bites are a harmless nuisance. But when the insect carries parasites that cause malaria, just one bite spells trouble," says Doctor Mario Baquilod, division chief of the Department of Health Infectious Diseases Office. Further Dr. Baquilod explains, however, that the chances of contracting malaria will only increase if one goes to a defined geographic area where the parasites and the mosquito species that transmit them are confined.

"The risk of acquiring malaria is also determined by the intensity of malaria transmission in the area and season of one's visit to the area, as well as the length of stay, type of accommodation and likely activities between dusk and dawn," says Baquilod. This is why Baquilod advises people who are going to any of these places, especially during the rainy season to take chemoprophylaxis -- usually the inexpensive doxycycline -- as a precaution two or three days before travel. The drug has to be taken daily up to four weeks after one leaves the place.

Although no prophylaxis is 100 percent effective, the correct medicine will reduce one's risk of contracting severe illness, he says.

According to DOH entomologist Norma Joson, malaria is caused by four species of the Plasmodium parasite, namely P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale. Only the first two are endemic to the Philippines. The parasite is primarily transmitted by the two species of Anopheles mosquito native to this country, the Anopheles flavirostris complex and the Anopheles maculatus complex.

In the Philippines over 70 percent of malaria infections are due to P. falciparum infection.

Only the female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria, as only female mosquitoes bite humans to take a blood meal. The Anopheles are mostly found in the clear running water of mountain streams, either well exposed to the sun or along a more shady edge, in seepage water, springs and shallow wells.

When the malaria-carrying mosquito bites a human, it injects the malaria parasites into the person's blood. The parasites travel through the person's bloodstream to the liver, where they grow to their next stage of development.

In six to nine days, the parasites leave the liver and enter the bloodstream again. They invade the red blood cells, and begin to multiply quickly, causing the blood cells to burst. The infection spreads and the person starts experiencing malaria symptoms. On the other hand, when a non-infected Anopheles mosquito bites a person infected with malaria, the mosquito sucks up parasites from the person's blood. The mosquito is then infected with the malaria parasites, which go through several stages of growth inside the mosquito.

The early symptoms of malaria include flu, with periods of chills and fever lasting several hours and occurring every few days. When one experiences this, it is best to immediately seek medical attention.

Without treatment, the illness may deteriorate rapidly, especially in high-risk groups including pregnant women, young children, and immune-compromised patients.

The best way to beat malaria is to prevent contact with the mosquitoes, in the first place.

"The malaria parasite has proven to be insidious, managing to mutate and resist drugs and insecticides created to fight it. Even scientists looking for a cure for malaria admit that it may take several more years to create a vaccine that provides total protection," says Baquilod.

As part of the nationwide Malaria Control Program, the DOH, in coordination with its local partners, conducts awareness campaigns in endemic areas, does house-to-house insecticide spraying operations during outbreaks, and distributes mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides to families living in high-risk areas. "We also advise them to wear long-sleeved shirts or blouses and long trousers to protect their arms and legs, especially from dusk to dawn when these malaria-carrying mosquitoes are out," Baquilod says.
]]> Today I walked by our domestic helper as she was finishing sweeping the floors and noticed how much dust, dirt and debris she had gathered. https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=180 Sat, 30 Sep 2006 07:09:36 GMT https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=180
When I lived in the USA I had a two bedroom condo, I lived by myself so things did not get very dirty, but I might only have to vacuum three or four a month and I kept a clean house.

Maybe it is because the homes here are not as air-tight as in the states. That coupled with the enormous amount of road dirt.

Chuck in Danao City
]]> Have you ever noticed here that whenever a person smiles that it gets flashed across their face. The smile is enhanced when the teeth of the person is sparkling white, even well set and well maintained. However, in many cases they are not sparkling white teeth but rotten or missing a tooth or two in their smile… https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=179 Sat, 30 Sep 2006 06:50:55 GMT https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=179
This not only occurs in the poor fisherman’s smile who struggles everyday to feed his family but also includes the rich and famous. The list of people I noticed is not a short list but includes doctors, lawyers, carpenters, jeepney drivers, teachers, judges, TV actors, tri-sikad drivers, politicians, tricycle drivers, fishermen, friends, government bureaucrats, relatives, the young and old alike, the pretty, the beautiful and the ugly….. Filipinos are known all over the world as a smiling people. However, the state of their teeth is not something to smile about.

Nine out of 10 Filipinos have cavities or dental caries, the leading health problem among public school children in the country, according to the Philippine Dental Association. Furthermore, Filipinos' oral health condition, PDA president Arsenio Donesa said that 92.4 percent of Filipinos have dental caries.

The National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey conducted by the Department of Health (DoH) in 1998 showed that "dental caries is probably the most prominent disease affecting Filipinos." This same study revealed that some Filipino family members share one toothbrush, while some families do not even own a toothbrush.

Some health officials warn that bacteria could be transported from the tooth cavities to the heart and cause rheumatic fever. Bacteria can also travel to the brain, kidneys and liver and cause abscess. Personally I don’t if this statement is true or not. However with the Philippines situated in the tropical and humid climate as she is I wouldn’t chance it.

Our nephew Yak Yak is afraid of the dentist’s electric drill and he is especially frightened of sharp needle in the dentist’s hand… In fact I think he’d rather take a beating before see any dentist. I’ve seen his face swell up more then once and every time I ask, would he like to see a dentist. And he always answers by shaking his head no and telling me “No Uncle Chuck.” He is 28 years old with several teeth missing in front of his mouth. What a shame! But we encouraged him to brush his teeth daily which by the way now he does religiously.

Of course Yak Yak might be justified and have reason to be afraid. I’ve heard that some dentists here having only a wooden chair, motorcycle headlamp and use no Novocain. Further, it seems there are illegal dental practitioners within the country that poses a problem to patients and licensed dentists alike. If this is the case, I’d be frightened and scared as our nephew.

Filipinos commonly fear going to the dentist for the reason that of their fear of pain and needles. Many just will skip their visits until their faces are swollen. To scores of folks here the very thought horrifies them. It seems that many Filipinos have a toothache on a fairly regular basis but will absolutely refuse to go to the dentist. Their terrified of the pain of a dentist trip and would rather have the occasional pain from the cavity then have it filled.

Our 12 year old boy Junior knows he is in serious “BIG” trouble with his Mom if he doesn’t he doesn’t brush every morning before leaving home for his school day. And of course he is expected to brush his teeth before bed time or will he’ll face the wrath of my wife, Beng. It use to be struggle every night but now he gotten the picture. He has figured out it’s easier to brush then having his ears scorched by his Mom.

Which bring me to our 60 year old friend George. Ever since I’ve known George he never had one tooth in his head. Well, that’s not quite right, for the first two or three years I’ve known him he had one tooth positioned in the front upper gum. Several months ago I spotted that particular one tooth had disappeared leaving him with zero teeth. Whenever he smiled he looked like old Gabby Hayes who was the side kick of Roy Rogers in the old black and white western movies of my youth. This year George had some of his relatives visit him over from the states and they gave him brand new false teeth – upper and lower.

Now George is in a ponder with his new teeth hurting his gums and I’m sure he at some times would like to toss his new teeth away and go back as things were - with no teeth.

There are well meaning experts who stress the importance of brushing after meals and flossing. Those who do not have time to brush should at least gargle water. And advised people to eat more green leafy vegetables and foods that require more chewing to exercise the jaws and supporting tissues of the teeth.

I don’t pretend to have an answer; the answer probably is a combination of various variables. The lack of health and oral hygiene education, a person not having the funds to see a dentist when needed and the fear of pain and needles.

I wonder and question myself how to diminish the fear of dentists and improve a person’s daily oral hygiene. I don’t know if there is an answer, that’s the $64 question.

Chuck in Danao City
]]> Wet season brings 15,000 cases of dengue infections…… https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=178 Sat, 30 Sep 2006 06:46:08 GMT https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=178
The best way to prevent dengue is by eliminating mosquito breeding sites in areas where dengue might occur. This can be done by discarding items that can collect rain or run-off water, especially old tires. Regularly change the water in regularly used outdoor containers such as pet water containers.
]]> Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This means that you get it by having oral, anal, or vaginal sex with someone who has gonorrhea. It’s caused by a type of bacteria that can grow in warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, like the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women as well as the urethra in men and women. Gonorrhea can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=174 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:28:38 GMT https://www.sandiegohealthdirectory.com/kb/link.php?action=detail&id=174
This STD is spread through contact with an infected vagina, penis, anus, or mouth. It is spread through semen or vaginal fluids during unprotected sexual contact with a partner who has it. Touching infected sex organs, like the vagina or penis, and then touching your eyes can cause an eye infection. It cannot be passed by shaking hands or sitting on a toilet seat.

Gonorrhea can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during the birth process through a vaginal delivery. In babies, gonorrhea infection may cause blindness, joint infection, or a life threatening blood infection.

Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and

Most women who have gonorrhea have no symptoms. When a woman does have symptoms, they most often appear within 10 days of getting the STD.
A woman may have these symptoms:
1. Pain or burning when passing urine.
2. Vaginal discharge that is yellow or sometimes bloody.
3. Bleeding between menstrual periods.
4. Heavy bleeding with periods.
5. Pain during sex.

Any genital symptoms such as discharge, burning during urination, or pain during sex should be a signal to stop having sex and to see a doctor right away. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, whether or not there are symptoms.

Men and women with an anal infection might have symptoms that may include discharge, soreness, bleeding, or itching of the anus, and painful bowel movements. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually cause no symptoms. With an eye infection, symptoms may include redness, itching, or discharge from the eye.

There are three types of tests for gonorrhea:
1. Swab sample. A swab sample from the part of the body likely to be infected such as cervix, urethra, penis, rectum, or throat can be sent to a lab for testing.
2. Urine test. Gonorrhea in the cervix or urethra can be diagnosed with a urine sample sent to a lab.
3. Gram stain. This is done right in a clinic or doctor's office. A sample from the urethra or a cervix is placed on a slide and stained with dye. It allows the doctor to see the bacteria under a microscope. This test works better for men than for women.

Talk to your doctor about getting tested if you have any symptoms of gonorrhea, if you think you or your partner could have it, or if you know your partner has it.

Antibiotics are used to cure gonorrhea. Many people who have gonorrhea also have another STD called chlamydia. Doctors often give a combination of antibiotics to treat both STDs. Finish all the medicine that you are prescribed by your doctor. Even if the symptoms go away, you still need to finish all of the medicine. If symptoms continue after receiving treatment, see your doctor. Although antibiotics can cure the infection, they do not repair any permanent damage done by the disease.

If you have gonorrhea, talk with all of your sexual partners. They should get tested and treated for gonorrhea, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Also avoid sexual contact until you and your partner(s) have been treated and cured. People who have had gonorrhea and received treatment may get infected again if they have sexual contact with a person who has gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea that is not treated can cause these serious problems in women:
Increased risk of getting HIV or spreading HIV

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection in a woman's pelvic organs, like the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Women with PID do not necessarily have symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can be severe and can include abdominal pain, fever, backache, irregular periods, and pain during sex, and vaginal discharge. This infection can lead to infertility. It can also cause ectopic pregnancy, in which an egg implants in the fallopian tube. This can cause miscarriage and possibly death of the mother. PID can also cause long-lasting, chronic pelvic pain.

Widespread infection to other parts of the body, like the blood, joints, or heart

A pregnant woman with untreated gonorrhea may be at risk for miscarriage, preterm delivery, or having her water break too early. If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treating the newborn’s eyes with an antibiotic immediately after delivery can prevent serious eye infections.

Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is found in pregnant women will reduce the risk of these health problems. All sex partners of pregnant women must also be treated for gonorrhea. Pregnant women should talk with their doctors for testing and treatments that are safe for them.

There are steps you can take to keep from getting this STD:
1. Don’t have sex. The best way to prevent gonorrhea or any STD is to practice abstinence, or not having vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
2. Be faithful. Have a sexual relationship with one partner who has been tested for gonorrhea and is not infected is another way to reduce your chances of getting infected. Be faithful to each other, meaning that you only have sex with each other and no one else.
3. Use condoms. Protect yourself with a condom EVERY time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms should be used for any type of sex with every partner. For vaginal sex, use a latex male condom or a female polyurethane condom. For anal sex, use a latex male condom. For oral sex, use a dental dam. A dental dam is a rubbery material that can be placed over the anus or the vagina before sexual contact.
4. Know that some methods of birth control, like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you from STDs. If you use one of these methods, be sure to also use a latex condom or dental dam (used for oral sex) correctly every time you have sex.
5. Talk with your sex partner about STDs and using condoms. It’s up to you to make sure you are protected. Remember, it’s YOUR body!
6. Talk frankly with your doctor or nurse and your sex partner(s) about any STDs you or your partner has or had. Talk about any sores or discharge in the genital area. Try not to be embarrassed. Being honest could save your lives.
7. Have regular pelvic exams. Talk with your doctor about how often you need them. Many tests for STDs can be done during an exam. Ask your doctor to test you for gonorrhea and other STDs. The sooner an STD is found, the easier it is to treat.
8. If you are pregnant, get tested for gonorrhea. Get tested as soon as you think you may be pregnant.]]>