Breakthroughs Today

THE Cebu City Health Department reported in August an increase in the half-year (January to July) cases of dengue fever (DF) by 35.3 percent compared to last year’s. For 2010, DF infection reached a rate of one for every 1,000 Cebu City residents. It is good to know that the viral infection claimed only six lives for the same period compared to 13 in 2009. But as of Sept. 7, 11 children already died, with ages running between three and nine. The Cebu City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit already recorded 1,175 DF cases this year, up 66 cases from last year. And the National Nutrition Council for Region 7 blamed it on malnourishment of city children, which weakened them against invading dengue viruses. A recent genomic study on dengue shock syndrome (DSS), the severe and life-threatening stage of dengue fever, indicated that DF influenced the expressive variations of 2,959 genes in the blood. The researchers found that individual genes strongly associated with DSS influ

AS DENGUE fever cases and deaths increase nationwide, clinical research worldwide continues search to find the ultimate predictor of impending dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). It is like anticipating where the road leads so that a detour can be made (hopefully it does not end in perdition like that movie The Road To Perdition). Well, not all dengue fevers are deadly. That’s a big comfort to know, but “neglecting caution” remains lethal in this disease. Classic dengue fever (CDF), as the World Health Organization defines it, needs only measures to support the weakened body of the patient. This allows the patient to get through as the disease takes its natural course, just like a kettle losing its steam when the burner is turned off. But, apart from neglecting to seek medical help on time, some patients tend to deteriorate. What initially appears as CDF worsens into the blood-losing... ( Read more . )  This article appears in Sun-Star Cebu newspaper on 6 September 2010.