Thai Public Health Min: Dengue Fever Situation Worrisome

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Public Health Min: Dengue fever situation worrisome

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BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry has expressed its concerns over the dengue fever situation in Thailand as 40 patients have died of the disease this year.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Sahametapat said the ministry would keep a close eye on dengue cases, given over 35, 000 people came down with the disease during January 1st to May 29th, 40 of whom died.

On an average 2,000 people contact the deadly disease a week, which is very high. He has, therefore, urged all related agencies to step up prevention measures and monitor the situation especially in factory and school areas during the next 90 days, the peak period for dengue fever.

The permanent secretary further revealed that experts had predicted that Thailand would this year see over 100,000 dengue cases, with more than 100 deaths; a 3-fold increase from last year and the highest record of all time.

He has, therefore, urged those who catch the fever to see a doctor immediately as most of those who died did not see a doctor in time.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

[NongKhaiKid]

The good Dr. says people who catch the fever should see a doctor immediately which raises the point how does the average person know they have the dengue variety ? I have a friend who is a bit of a hypochondriac and has a fever several times a week but never goes to the doctor, the expression " fever " covers so much in Thailand.

Recently too the ministry told the nation to get rid of old tyres as they are a breeding ground for mosquitos but why single out tyres, one of my neighbours has an assortment of crap around the outside of the house, old basins, uncovered stone jugs and the like, all of which are full of stagnant water.

Far too often here advice is of the headline grabbing variety as opposed to being practical.

[nuananddon]

I got dengue fever in Thailand in April. The day I departed (April 30th) I became very sick on the first leg of my flight from BKK to NRT and was nearly pulled off the next leg of the flight to the states. I thought I had food poisoning and just wanted to get home, so I begged the captain not to pull me off the flight. He said OK, but after we takeoff we are not coming back and it is a 13 hour flight, longest day of my life. Back home I spent 5 days in the hospital, at first nobody knew what I had, then a doctor from India recognized the symptoms and the blood tested positive for Dengue. Since then my wife has heard of 8 cases in our small village in central Lampang province.

[PoodMaiDai]

Like they did with bird flu a few years ago, they will tell you numbers until it gets too high, then it will not be discussed again.

[Bellweather]

The good Dr. says people who catch the fever should see a doctor immediately which raises the point how does the average person know they have the dengue variety ? I have a friend who is a bit of a hypochondriac and has a fever several times a week but never goes to the doctor, the expression " fever " covers so much in Thailand.

Recently too the ministry told the nation to get rid of old tyres as they are a breeding ground for mosquitos but why single out tyres, one of my neighbours has an assortment of crap around the outside of the house, old basins, uncovered stone jugs and the like, all of which are full of stagnant water.

Far too often here advice is of the headline grabbing variety as opposed to being practical.

As I understand it dengue fever has almost identical symptoms to malaria and K. Nuananddon was in hospital for 5 days before it was diagnosed. As NongKK pointed out the Permanent Secy. to the Health Ministry encourages people with dengue to go to a doctor which would require a complete layman to come up with an accurate self-diagnosis and in any case Thais can't always afford to go to a clinic every time they feel ill. As is so often the case here things are back to front as the normal routine is to go to a doctor to find out what's wrong, not to go and tell him.

[chiang mai]

A themometer is invaluble here, anything over 101 and you have a fever, at 102 you need to get to a hospital.

[tominbkk]

again, it would be nice for the govt to indicate what areas are getting the bites. I'm sure some parts of Thailand or Bangkok are heavier hit than others.

[chainarong]

Dengue is similar to Malaria, except a bad dose you will have internal organs hemorrhaging, not to be taken lightly, can kill infants and elderly and if you return home and get sick , tell the doctor where you have been, helps.

[bunnydrops]

I live 100km north of Korat. People are sent around to check for uncovered containers holding water. Anything that holds water has to be covered or have a net over it. They tip over anything that not covered. This is in a very rural area.

[Psych01]

Here is a link on how Singapore informs and deals with the Dengue Fever issue. It is a government site, not sure if it would be allowed to be posted or not but I will post it anyway.

[bri1guy]

What about taking Doxycycline Hyclate tablets if in effective areas same as we do for Malaria prevention?? All standing water should be dumped or treated so this virus cannot effect people..

[eggers]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

[chiang mai]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

Nope, best treatment is to cover up and avoid being bitten, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mozzies are feeding, long sleeve shirts and long cotton pants are helpful as is deet spray and similar..

[Psych01]

@eggers, there are currently no vaccinations for any of the 4 strains. There are clinical trials being done, here is an article from the US and also Global Vaccines site.

[RedQualia]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

Nope, best treatment is to cover up and avoid being bitten, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mozzies are feeding, long sleeve shirts and long cotton pants are helpful as is deet spray and similar..

Not completely correct. While the mosquitoes that bite at dusk/dawn may or may not carry dengue, the "Asian tiger" mosquitoes that bite in the mid-afternoon and 3AM-ish are known vectors for dengue. The tiger mosquitoes are the big striped ones. (See here: http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/advice/mosquito-info/biting-insect-library/asian-tiger-mosquito -- moderator, remove the link if necessary, but the info is correct.)

Edited June 3, 2013 by RedQualia

[loong]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

Nope, best treatment is to cover up and avoid being bitten, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mozzies are feeding, long sleeve shirts and long cotton pants are helpful as is deet spray and similar..

Mozzies that carry this disease feed during the day

[chiang mai]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

Nope, best treatment is to cover up and avoid being bitten, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mozzies are feeding, long sleeve shirts and long cotton pants are helpful as is deet spray and similar..

Not completely correct. While the mosquitoes that bite at dusk/dawn may or may not carry dengue, the "Asian tiger" mosquitoes that bite in the mid-afternoon and 3AM-ish are known vectors for dengue. The tiger mosquitoes are the big striped ones. (See here: http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/advice/mosquito-info/biting-insect-library/asian-tiger-mosquito -- moderator, remove the link if necessary, but the info is correct.)

I think you meant to say that my statement is incomplete as opposed to incorrect. That being the case will you please provide a link from a reliable source confirming that the higher risk periods are as you describe (mid-afternoon and 3am), I ask this because I have never heard of such in my ten years here? In fact all my information points at Dengue being transmitted by day time mozzies only and never at night (which is reserved for the Malaria carrying kind).

[lungmi]

In my area (Northwest) they let drop water in the water containers (toilet, bathroom) and put lemongrass leaves. Outside they cover the containers.

We have good health stations specialised for malaria, rabies, snake bites and other rural problems.

After diagnosis they sent you to the good doctors and cliniques for treatment.

[Morakot]

[WyattEarp]

I have a friend who is a bit of a hypochondriac and has a fever several times a week but never goes to the doctor,

Normally a hypochondriac is someone who goes to the doctor without fever, so wouldn't that make him the opposite?

A themometer is invaluble here, anything over 101 and you have a fever, at 102 you need to get to a hospital.

101 must be American numbers. It's 37C in the rest of the world.

[Emdog]

"nice for the govt to indicate what areas are getting the bites" I usually get it on arm or leg.... Good government is worried about it. How about doing something? Oops!

I have had the fever two times in last five years. No picnic. No cure for it, just keep fluids up and drink electrolytes. Lasts about 8 days. Or die. As you can tell, I am not dead yet...

[schondie]

Here in the south, I contracted dengue a couple of years ago. Also a friend staying with me got it a few weeks earlier.

When I ask local people if they've ever contracted it or if it's common to the area they say they've never heard of anyone with it.

It leads me to believe that it may be misdiagnosed at the hospitals or clinics as it must be more common than that.

[Bellweather]

I have a friend who is a bit of a hypochondriac and has a fever several times a week but never goes to the doctor,

Normally a hypochondriac is someone who goes to the doctor without fever, so wouldn't that make him the opposite?

>A themometer is invaluble here, anything over 101 and you have a fever, at 102 you need to get to a hospital.

101 must be American numbers. It's 37C in the rest of the world.

A hypochondriac is someone who worries about their health even when not ill and they can do that without going to the doctor every time they feel bad .

[orang37]

Dengue is primarily carried by the female Anopheles Aedes Aegypti. It's the fastest growing arbovirus (arthopod borne virus) on the planet.

There is an incubation period following the bite of a Dengeue-carrying mosquito during which most people will be asymptomatic.

When the virus "blooms," the typical experience, like mine several years ago, is to feel suddenly "deathly" ill, and weak, and to have high-fever.

There are four strains of Dengue, and, while there is some debate about whether cross-immunization can occur, the majority opinion is that having one strain does not mean you can't get another.

There is no "treatment" for Dengue in the "curative" sense of that word: treatment is palliative, and symptomatic.

The great danger is that your red blood platelet count will go so low that your blood becomes so thin that it can perfuse into your lungs, or eyes. This very dangerous, potentially fatal, possible stage of Dengue is referred to as "hemorrhagic dengue fever." If a person has this stage of Dengue, they may require blood transfusions in order to survive. Or, your blood-pressure may fall to such a low-level that you will experience possibly fatal "Dengue shock syndrome."

The good news is that if Dengue hasn't killed you by about the seventh day after symptoms appear, you will, likely, survive.

I did not have to go into the hospital, but some people will need to be hospitalized, even if they are not in the hemorrhagic state.

The important thing is to get your red-blood platelet count monitored as frequently as you doctors advise.

And, Dengue can be more fatal to young children, and elderly, people, as well as those with weakened immune systems, cancer survivors, etc.

It took me about six-weeks to fully recover from Dengue. I had IV re-hydration, out-patient, during the high-fever period, twice.

The old British Colonial name for Dengue was "breakbone fever;" I did not have joint-pain symptoms specifically, for which I am thankful.

Here's to your health, and I'm hoping you never experience Dengue !

If you, or any family member, do suddenly go into a weak, and feverish, state, I hope you go to a good doctor immediately !

~o:37;

[recycler]

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever?

If so, is it available at clinics & hospitals?

Nope, best treatment is to cover up and avoid being bitten, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mozzies are feeding, long sleeve shirts and long cotton pants are helpful as is deet spray and similar..

Actually the Dengue mosquito's are more active during the day, see below from an Aussie site:

Adult mosquitoes

Adult dengue mosquitoes like to rest in dark areas

both inside homes and underneath houses and other buildings. They prefer

to bite people during day light hours, unlike other types of mosquitoes

that are more active at night.

Some of their favourite resting spots include under beds, tables and

other furniture, behind curtains or anywhere dark and shaded under

houses.

Using a surface spray in these dark areas can help get rid of dengue mosquitoes around your home.

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/dengue/info/mosquito.asp

[fxe1200]

The government could do a lot to reduce the number of infections by banning open sewers in the country, but why tackle a problem effectively, when spreading smart advises is done more easily.

[chiang mai]

I have a friend who is a bit of a hypochondriac and has a fever several times a week but never goes to the doctor,

Normally a hypochondriac is someone who goes to the doctor without fever, so wouldn't that make him the opposite?

>A themometer is invaluble here, anything over 101 and you have a fever, at 102 you need to get to a hospital.

101 must be American numbers. It's 37C in the rest of the world.

If ever you have looked at a themometer you'll see that almost all are denoted in Celsius and Farenheit.

[WyattEarp]

If ever you have looked at a themometer you'll see that almost all are denoted in Celsius and Farenheit.

Honestly, no I don't think so, those I've seen here were in Celsius only.

[NanLaew]

It's a national problem but the Health Ministry delegates any prevention to local level... and nothing much happens beyond the one-off purge on open containers and other such limited actions. Now that rainy season is kicking off, there's lot's of places for water to collect. The dogs water bowl in the bedroom has several 'wrigglers' after only a couple of days. I would be interested if any members have recently seen those 'fogging' trucks out and about. I haven't seen one in Udon for over 3 years but before that, they were a regular occurrence in every community.

I caught dengue in Bangkok this time 2 years ago. My buddy visiting from the US did as well. He wasn't correctly diagnosed until after a mutual friend mentioned to him that I had dengue; the Houston doctors hadn't seen it so didn't know what they were looking for. My neighbour in Udon caught it about 2 months ago and recovered. I also read that a kid at a Pattaya orphanage died from it last month.

So it's not a case of trying to see if you are in a less-risky area; it's a case of making sure that you don't have any stagnant water traps and do your best to eliminate dark and moist places. Even if you have a lawn, make sure you cut it short (more regularly) in the wet season as mossies can park in grass as well as trees and bushes. If you have dense plants on your balcony, you will have a home for mossies as well.

[hawker9000]

What about taking Doxycycline Hyclate tablets if in effective areas same as we do for Malaria prevention?? All standing water should be dumped or treated so this virus cannot effect people..

'Have never heard anyone suggest any preventive (or curative for that matter) medication for dengue - rather just to avoid being bitten. The effect of the disease on red platelet levels is apparently what can be so dangerous. I found a report of a study of the use of doxycycline in dengue patients (2011; 'looks like it was done in Mexico), but it looks like this was a matter of possible treatment, not prevention. Check the DrugLib website if you're interested in details.

WRT telling the difference (between dengue and certain other diseases), doesn't dengue exhibit a telltale rash?