MANILA - An infectious disease expert on Sunday warned the public against diseases common during the rainy season even as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The diseases dubbed as WILD, or waterborne, influenza, leptospirosis, and dengue, all have flu-like symptoms, according to Eric Tayag, former chief of the National Epidemiology Center.
"Magiging mahirap nga yan sa mga health providers to distinguish between these diseases common during the rainy season. Ngayong tag-ulan, inaasahan natin ang pagtaas ng mga kaso sa binansagan nating WILD diseases," he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.
Some 50,000 cases of dengue have been reported from January until end of May, mostly in Central Luzon and Central Visayas, Tayag said.
Symptoms of mosquito-borne disease include high fever, skin rashes, bleeding of the nose and/or gums, and loss of appetite, he said.
"Dapat sinisinop ang loob at labas ng bahay kung saan may tubig na masasabi nating stagnant, sapagkat yan ang pamumugaran ng lamok. Sa loob ng 2 linggo, magiging lamok na yan na mangangagat sa 'tin," he said.
"Pag napansin niyo po yung bata na mataas ang lagnat, nagtatamlay, magsuspetsa na kayo na dengue yan, lalo na kung mabalitaan niyo sa lugar niyo na may mga kaso na ng dengue."
Dengue patients are in need of hydration, which may be addressed at home by drinking oral rehydration solution or oresol, Tayag said.
The solution can also be made with 1 liter of water, 6 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, he added.
Leptospirosis symptoms include fever after 2 to 7 days of infection, headache, muscle pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes, eye redness, and tea-colored urine, according to Tayag.
When left untreated, the disease may cause meningitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and liver failure.
Tayag urged the public to immediately consult their doctors or the health department's hotline at 1555 and 02-894-COVID (26843) once they experience these symptoms.
DZMM, TeleRadyo, Eric Tayag, DOH, Department of Health, infectious disease, dengue, leptospirosis, waterborne diseases, COVID-19, coronavirus