Beware of Mosquito-Borne Virus

     Seven years ago, my son contracted a mosquito-borne viral infection, the dengue virus. Three days of high to low fever, had me suspected of dengue fever. On the fourth day, I have seen that he had bleeding gums, right then I decided to take him to a hospital since I know how fatal dengue is. It pays to be informed of every disease that could snatch out the ones we love. Though he survived that fatal disease, it leaves a traumatic experience for him due to intermittent blood extraction to check on his platelets. I have come to know through doctors that there are four (4) strains of dengue infection in which you cannot be immune if you have had the other one. My son had strain I (DEN-1) and strain IV (DEN-4), meaning he is still not immune to strain II and III.

     After five years, I contracted another mosquito-borne viral infection. Fever, headache, and massive joint pains which I suspected then as dengue. I am taking chances with my life then before seeking the doctor's help, if my gum bleeds that was it. Joint pains is unbearable for me then because I was not able to walk, so I consulted my doctor and was diagnosed having the chikungunya virus. Though this one is not fatal, the extreme pain of the symptoms as well as taking antibiotics was hard for me. 

     The onset of another mosquito-borne virus is in our news nowadays, the zika virus urges me to do some research on the four most known mosquito-borne viral infections aside from malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and zika virus.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. 

• Incubation is 3-6 days. 
• The 1st acute phase occurs with fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. 
• The 2nd phase, the more toxic phase, high fever returns, and several body systems are affected.
• Jaundice, abdominal pains, vomiting, and bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes, and stomach.
• Blood also appears in the vomit and feces. Kidney function deteriorates. Patients who enter the toxic phase die within 10 - 14 days. 
• Vaccines are available. 
• No specific treatment but can be treated with antibiotics.

Dengue Virus is transmitted by a female mosquito of the species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The former is usually widespread in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia while the latter is in cooler temperate regions of Europe. 

• Aedes aegypti is a day mosquito that bites early in the morning and before dusk in the evening. 
• Incubation is 4-10 days.
• A high fever of up to 40°C/104°F, headache, pain behind the eyes and muscle pains, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands, rashes, and bleeding gums are the symptoms but not necessarily all of them.
• Complications that can be deadly are plasma leaking, organ impairment, severe bleeding, respiratory diseases, or fluid accumulation which may occur 3-7 days after the 1st symptoms. 
• Infected persons are the carriers of the disease. 
• No specific treatment but maintenance of the patient's body fluid is critical for its treatment.
• Vaccine is now available 

Chikungunya Virus is also transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, the most common are the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The name chikungunya is derived from the Kimakonde language in Africa, "to become contorted" since the patient appears stooped due to joint pains.

• The virus is transmitted from person to person by infected female mosquitoes. 
• Sudden onset of fever accompanied by joint pains are the primary symptoms.
• Onset of illness occurs in 4 to 8 days or 2 to 12 days.
• Headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, fatigue, and rash are the common symptoms.
• Joint pain can be debilitating and can last for weeks, months, or even years.
• Symptoms can be the same as in dengue and can be sometimes misdiagnosed in some regions.
• No specific treatment or cure but treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

Zika Virus is transmitted to a person through the bite of an infected mosquito, Aedes aegypti, the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

• incubation period is not clear
• symptoms include mild fever, rash, and conjunctivitis which lasts for 2 to 7 days.
• some symptoms are similar to other mosquito-borne diseases, including muscle, and joint pains, malaise, and headache.
• no specific treatment and vaccines available

** Zika Virus is reportedly associated with a birth defect of microcephaly due to an increase in several babies born with it in  Brazil. Regarding the matter, World Health Organization (WHO) just released a news statement associating neurological birth defects with the zika virus.

** As we have noticed, the same mosquitoes and symptoms can be observed in all of these diseases. They only differ in the kinds of virus and strain the mosquitoes are carrying and transmitting to humans.

Definition of Terms:

* incubation period - from the time of exposure to the onset of symptoms

* microcephaly - a type of birth or congenital defect wherein the infant's head is significantly smaller due to incomplete brain development.

* plasma leakage - leakage of blood plasma out of the capillaries.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, LINKS ARE PROVIDED BELOW FOR DISSEMINATION:

*Question and Answers: Zika and Pregnancy

*WHO(World Health Organization) statement on the first meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations

*WHO Director-General Summarizes the Outcome of the Emergency Committee on Zika

#zikavirus #chikingunya #dengue #yellowfever #aedesaegypti #microcephaly

First Aid: When Someone is Choking

     Has anyone from your family experienced this one simple yet deadly emergency situation? When I was a child, I remember my younger brother suddenly coughed up as if he cannot breathe. My mother may be out of the experience knowing what had transpired, made a strong tap on his back, and two small coins suddenly cough out from my brother's mouth. The same thing happened when my eldest was only 6 years old, remembering what my mother had done, tapped on his back too and cough-out a small coin. Another incident was when my daughter, already 18 years old suddenly choked upon a pechay veggie we were eating. Her older brother made an abdominal thrust on her back to cough out the food. Choking is the common cause of death amongst children. Choking can be fatal if not immediately and properly handled. As a mom, in a time like this, we should know how to give immediate action to rescue someone we love. Read on and be informed.

How to recognize when someone is choking?

1. When a person is clutching at his throat and unable to speak.

2. When a person is becoming distressed and panicky.

3. When a person lost consciousness because of an inability to breathe,

What happens when someone is choking?

When we swallow food, a flap of cartilage known as the epiglottis moves downward to stop food from being taken into our trachea or windpipe. If this fails to happen, food becomes stuck in our airways and choking might have occurred.

Choking if not attended to and properly handled may cause brain damage within 3 or 4 minutes due to lack of oxygen.

What are the proper immediate actions when someone is choking?

For Baby:

1. Straddle the baby's face down along your arm supporting his head. Give 5 firm taps between his shoulders.

2, If choking continues, turn the baby over, still supporting his head. Place 2 fingertips between his navel and breastbone. Press forward and downward in quick movements and repeat the movement up to 4 times if necessary.

3. If the baby loses consciousness, seek medical help immediately and begin resuscitation.

For Children:

1. Lay the child across your lap with his head down. Tap firmly between the shoulder blades 5 times.

2. If unsuccessful, turn the child over so that he faces you on your lap. Support the back of the child and give him 5 firm upward thrusts with one hand above his navel.

3. If still unsuccessful, try steps 1 and 2 again. If the child becomes unconscious, call an ambulance /bring them to the nearest hospital immediately and begin resuscitation.

For Adults:

1. Lean the patient forward and give him 5 hard taps on the back between his shoulder blades.

2. If unsuccessful, an abdominal thrust can be performed from behind a patient who is either standing or sitting.  

     a) Pass your hands around the patient and interlock them together just above his navel.

     b) Pull sharply inwards and upwards

3. If the person is unconscious, kneel astride him on the floor and perform a similar abdominal thrust with your hand (one hand on top of the other) just below the rib cage.

4. If you have tried the abdominal thrust 6 times without success, call an ambulance/bring the patient to the nearest hospital and begin resuscitation.

Step 2

Step 3

*Remember not to poke fingers down the choking victim's throat to find the object. But if the object appears in the victim's mouth, you may remove it gently.

Info and images credit to First Aid, Children's Leisure Products Ltd. 1998  published by Geddes&Grosset 

Zenni Optical Launch Buy 2 pairs Get 1 pair Free Deal

     Vision problems affect our daily lives, especially in performing our work. Also, during our leisure time like watching our favorite sports game, we tend to miss the details of game surprises due to vision problems. We can't help but wear prescription glasses. Wearing prescription glasses goes with a fashion sense, fitting the frames, checking its quality and price range..and if you're one of the people who wear it for fashion but checking on getting more than what you pay for..visit Zenni Optical, #1 online eyeglasses store offering high quality $ 6.95 prescription eyeglasses. Virtually any glasses, even bifocal or progressive eyeglasses, can be ordered on Zenni's website with tint, whether for fashion or sunglasses. Full-rim, half-rim, or even rimless frame eyeglasses can be tinted to suit your style or use, and with tint only $4.95; it’s an option not to be overlooked. And have you figured it out? Fitting the frames even online?.. You can try any frame before you buy with the Zenni Frame Fit system. (I was even amazed trying to fit the frames myself!) Check them out! And with the affordable price at Zenni, you can buy multiple pairs and get to switch styles to match the outfit or mood.
     And as some of us know, astigmatism usually runs in the family, as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness. If one or both of the parents have it, there is a tendency for their kids to have it too. And wearing prescription glasses in the family needs an affordable eyeglasses price range and quality. Visit Zenni Optical, they are running a "Buy 2 pairs get the 3rd pair FREE" (equal or less value) promotion on all eyeglasses.

      A perfect match for your family's needs on prescription glasses! Plus...all their glasses include free anti-scratch coating, free thin and light 1.57 index single vision lens, free full UV protection, a free protective case, and a free microfiber cleaning cloth. Imagine those benefits that you can get with a price of two but three pairs to be delivered to your door. Think about buying more than what you pay for.

Angels from Norway Playing with my Daughter

This is the continuation of the blog I have written a week ago about angels who came from Norway. Click here for the full story about Emily Faith Princess

  

    This time, this blog is about the free therapy they administered to my daughter, Emily Faith. They gave us a video copy of the exercises they have done along with a hard copy of how these exercises are being done, their purpose, and their goal. I think posting it here could somehow help those moms having the same scenario as I am.  

    The goals of these exercises are the following: to strengthen Emily Faith's arms, to acquire better sitting balance, and to do better her general functions as well. So these are the program exercises, the 2 angels, Emmeli and Sarah had
administered. All of these were accompanied by
music so it's kinda like a play too for my daughter.

The following exercises were done:

1) The Hammer. Strengthening her arms by exercising the back of the arms. Easing the function of lifting herself up.

- sitting on a chair with good support, put some papers on the wall making her hit the numbers with a hammer alternately both right and left arms.

2) Ball on Numbers. For eye-hand coordination and strengthening her arms.

- just like The Hammer but the papers on the wall may either have numbers or letters written on them, asking her to hit once or twice the numbers or letters.

3) Rolling. To strengthen her stomach and back.

- rolling on the floor with a good rubber mat, making it a play, or singing a song to motivate her to do it.

4) Lion. Strengthening her pelvic area, stomach, back, and arms.

- crawling, moving from one place to another, with her knee bends while stretching her arms.

5) Jellyfish. To strengthen her whole body and for an endurance challenge.

- crawling, pulling the weight of her body putting some obstacles for her to overcome

6) Throwing the Ball. For a good sitting balance and stability.

- sitting on a bench or chair with her legs hanging down, without any support so she could use both hands at the same time in balancing her body

7) Michael Jackson. For sitting balance and stability.

- playing MJ's music (Wanna be Startin' Something) and initiating creative moves that include both hands over her head, while sitting on a bench or chair with her legs hanging down. Take note she should not be leaning on anything for support.

Music is for exercises only. Credits to Sony Music

When Angels Came from Norway...

     It was one of the typical Sundays when Emily Faith's father told me that he had been told by Tita Divine if I could bring Emily Faith and talk to some Norweigian missionaries about Emily Faith's condition. So, the time came for us to talk and they had asked me what could be the perfect time for Emily Faith to undergo her therapy and that they are administering it free. The said Norweigian missionaries are actually students of PhysioTherapy and that they are into helping special kids who need therapy as well as for their case studies. 

     Sarah and Emmeli (whom I thought we have the same spelling) had been administering therapy for Emily Faith 3 times a week every morning which lasted 5 weeks. On their last day with Emily Faith, they had invited me to their mission house. This was actually my second meeting with the two of them, the first one was an interview regarding Emily Faith's mobility, capability, etc., a bit of talk about our personal lives, lunch with them, a mall tour around Monumento, Caloocan area. 

     They had first thought that the nearest mall where they are staying is the one standing in North Edsa, Quezon City until I brought them to some malls here in our area because they wanted to taste some Filipino dishes. I brought them to a cake store known for its cheaper and delectable Filipino dishes. We ordered relyenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), lumpiang sariwa (fresh lumpia), lumpiang shanghai (they call it spring rolls), and sinangag (garlic fried rice with some eggs and mixed vegetables). For the dessert, we had ordered one slice of black forest cake, leche flan (a gelatine made from milk and eggs with caramel toppings), and ube halaan (sweet purple yam). At first, it seems they don't like relyenong bangus but when they had tasted it, their eyes opened wide and made a nod and said "not bad, it's delicious". They said they can eat anything except the egg with a chicken on it. I told them it was "balut"..and Sarah said it was what she's hearing shouting during the night.

     Now for the second visit to their mission house..they had again asked me about Faith's mobility, capability, etc. if noticed some improvements. And some of their questions they have answered as they have an up-close observation on Emily Faith..then we had our lunch and of course, I'm not expecting these pretty gals serving rice as for the Western culture they mostly eat bread which I'm gladly and will always accept as lunch or dinner (my kids and I are a bread cravers).  Before we eat they sing a praise song I've never heard before even in some Christian families I've been with..(have asked Sarah for the lyrics of the song). Emmeli had prepared an omelet mixed with bell pepper and ham and wheat bread. Hmmm..really like it..yum yum... can't resist even though I told them I don't wanna eat 'coz I've got my brunch  (breakfast and lunch) and I'm too full! But..the moment I've seen the wheat bread, o-oh, find myself eating with them..(",)...

     Anyway, done with all that..they had gave me a copy of the exercises they administered on Emily Faith as well as they let me watch the video of the three doing the exercises., step by step ..haha..it's so kinda funny, especially on the Michael Jackson part (will blog later these exercises). After watching, they had given me a letter in a form of a greeting card but they never let me open and read it for a moment until they gave me the signal. They gave me 2 copies of the exercises on a DVD disc, a mini-calendar from Norway, some chocolates... Melkesjokolade... pronounced as "melkeshokolad". Then Emmeli and Sarah told me that since Emily Faith can move from one place to another through her monoblock chair, as I have told them, holding it and doing some balancing acts which I don't know how she's doing that. Emmeli and Sarah told me that they had asked some of their friends in Norway to give something to Emily Faith and whoa!... from out of the room..they are pushing a wheelchair, a baby wheelchair for Emily Faith!!!!... can't express how thankful I am for that wonderful gift as tears falling down... Really ..really thankful for that! I told them to extend our thanks to their friends who had to heed their call for Emily Faith's wheelchair. The wonderful effort that Sarah and Emmeli had done to Emily Faith!... Really... angels do come..angels came from Norway..would never forget their wonderful effort..no words can express how much they have made us happy seeing Emily Faith enjoying their gift!!! God bless them!

Emily Faith in her wheelchair courtesy of 

Sarah and Emmeli and their friends

A letter for Emily Faith by Emmeli and Sarah

Melkeshokolad

Stuffs Emmeli and Sarah had given

The RH Bill and the President

     What is in the RH Bill that many people and organizations are so preoccupied with whether they are for

it or against it? ..and what is RH Bill? RH Bill is an act providing for a national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development, and other purposes. 

     According to the bill, Reproductive Health refers to the state of physical, mental, and social well-being of a person and not merely the absence of a disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Responsible Parenthood refers to the will, ability, and commitment of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning. Population Development, refers to a program that aims to: 

(1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; 

(2) improve the reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; 

(3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; 

(4) reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy; and 

(5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution.
     The debate may be lies on the definition of the population development that aims to help couples and parents achieve their desired family size, the aim to improve individuals' reproductive health by addressing reproductive health problems, and the aim to reduce teenage pregnancy. For these three aims to achieve, the bill stated in Sections 9 and 10, the availability of family planning methods and services and the use of contraceptives as essential medicines. The bill, however, is against abortion as stated in Sec 3m. Sec 12 and 19, stated that mandatory health education to be implemented from grade 5 up to 4th-year high school, and the intensified campaign of public awareness on the need to protect and promote reproductive health.
     Here lies the disagreement between the Catholic Church and the government. The use of these contraceptives somehow according to the Church promotes abortion for the married couple since life begins at conception. However, the use of these contraceptives prevents this life to form. The use of these contraceptives insinuates that premarital and extramarital sex is being promoted. The protagonists of RH Bill insist on the right to be informed and the right to choose.
     I am not good at the debate but I think we have to examine every detail of this bill. I am not pro-abortion or pre-/extra-marital sex but I am for responsible parenthood. The Church plays an important role in teaching us the values of life, checking and reminding us of the values instilled in us. The leaders of this country are responsible for every decision that they should take and that he goes for what is right and necessary for their people. Everyone has their own reasons and convictions. When the President, the leader of our country made his statement that he is for RH Bill, it is his prerogative as a leader and I think the Church should refrain (or is it from the church?) from throwing malicious statements at him. I was not pro-Noynoy Aquino, I did not vote for him. But I have just exercised my right to vote and elect whom I think would be the best for our country. As a citizen of this country under his governance, is it not right to follow the leader?  All along, standing out for what he thinks is right and good for his people, I support him in his stand for RH Bill.
      

Read to check:

RH Bill 5043