Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Pattern Changed
The proportion of aged people with the disease dengue hemorrhagic fever is now shifting. If earlier the disease is more of attacking the children, now more threatening teenagers and adults. Health professionals need to recognize this phenomenon.
The role of health workers, including midwives, it is important to recognize the symptoms of the disease in order to provide appropriate treatment.
This was revealed in a press conference commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) as well as campaigns on dengue fever Handle Right of the Child, Tuesday (29/06/2010).
A pediatrician from the Department of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia and Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta, Alan R Tumbelaka, said that dengue fever (DHF) are aged over 15 years continues to grow. Dengue virus is spread through the bite of aedes aegypti mosquito.
Quoting the Health Ministry data, she reveals, in 1993, patients aged over 15 years about 20 per cent and most patients aged 4-14 years, which is about 60 percent. The rest, of children aged 1-4 years and children under one year. However, since 2003 until now the trend changed, patients aged over 15 years increased more than double. The 4-14 year-old patient shrank. “Teenagers and adults should be more careful. At the RSCM, for example, are now experts in the disease began much involved in the case of dengue fever. First, more pediatricians, “he said.
He said the conclusion was obtained based on statistics and unknown causes of change in the proportion of aged patients. The signs of the patients experienced no changes. Only people with kids are usually difficult to express grievances, are different from adults.
He said health workers should understand well the signs of dengue virus infection to provide appropriate consultation. Based on data from the Ministry of Health, the number of dengue cases recorded 137 469 cases with 1187 deaths of 2008 souls. During the year 2009 the number of cases rose to 154 855 cases and 1384 died.
In his opening remarks the Chairman of the Executive Committee read out the Treasurer IBI IBI, Tuminah Wiratmoko, revealed that midwives often become the vanguard of a much-needed in dealing with public complaints in health. Midwives play a role to educate and disseminate information to the public, including in an attempt reduce the incidence of DHF.
