Ex-DOH chief: Don’t to wait until you’re so thirsty to drink

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MANILA, Philippines — People should not wait until they feel thirsty before drinking water amid the intense summer heat in many parts of the country, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, a former secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), said on Monday.

In a press briefing, Garin reminded the public to drink water at even the slightest hint of thirst because a lot of heat-induced diseases — like heat stroke — can happen without people knowing that they are at risk.

READ: Hot weather prompts some schools to suspend classes on April 1 

“We should really drink lots of water. It’s so important that you carry a water bottle or water container, do not wait for the time that you are thirsty that you have to drink water. Even with just a little desire to drink or if you feel that the heat is unbearable, drink water,” she said.

“Because when heat stroke happens sometimes we do not know that we’re on the way to having one, and then someone would just collapse. So, keeping ourselves hydrated, that’s very important,” she added.

Garin also said that many other ailments can be contracted due to heat, which necessitates self-monitoring and adherence to medication given by physicians — especially antibiotics, which should be consumed per the schedule.

“Ventilation is very important, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., that’s where heat is most intense and you can feel the radiation that comes with it because our ozone layer is already thin,” she said.

READ: Heat index hits danger level in 5 areas on Easter Sunday 

“There are also other ailments brought by the heat, like cough, colds, fever. If you get a fever for two days, it’s no longer ordinary so you should seek medical attention because that might be dengue which of course we know is lethal. If your cough doesn’t subside, have yourself checked for pneumonia so that you can get antibiotics. And also, if a doctor gives you antibiotics, you should comply with the prescription,” she added.

Several cities and municipalities declared class suspensions for April 1 and 2 due to the extreme heat experienced in different areas.

State meteorologists warned that areas in Western Visayas, including Iloilo City and Roxas City, may experience heat index levels of 41ºC on Monday, just a shade below the “danger” level of 42 to 51ºC.

Other ailments

Garin also warned women about the possibility of yeast infections on their private parts because of more intense perspiration near the pubic area during the dry season.

“During the summer season, women are prone to fungal infection. That’s not a sexually transmitted disease. That is brought by the normal flora in the intimate areas, over the pubic area, perineal area of women. When the area is moist due to perspiration and if the weather is hot, it serves as a perfect petri dish for the fungi to spread,” she said.

“So, the more you scratch the more it will itch. Do not scratch it. Also, that is not infectious, because others think it is a sexually transmitted disease. No, it’s not. The important thing is that it can be treated. But you have to keep that area dry,” she added.

Whooping cough

Earlier, too, Garin spoke about pertussis or whooping cough, which has seen a resurgence in the Philippines. Garin explained that vaccinations can counter this, as vaccines against pertussis are usually included in the vials offered by the government, either through the DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccines or the more modern 5-in-1 or 6-in-1 shots.

“It’s saddening because pertussis is supposed to be a preventable disease. When we did not have the vaccine against Bordetella pertussis, many children die from whooping cough, especially those from one-month-old up to six years, because this is the critical period for children, their immunity is not yet mature,” she said.

“Now, because we have vaccines included in the DPT — diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus — that’s three doses, or sometimes included in the 5-in-1, 6-in-1 […] that’s given as three doses because they are expected to contract pertussis if they lack vaccinations. But if you are vaccinated and you contract the disease, you can fight it off and it’s not lethal. Unfortunately, we now have a vaccine scare,” she added.