09 September 2005
FOUND IN BLOOD CULTURES: 2 strains of dengue in Pangasinan
A GOVERNMENT doctor has confirmed that there are two strains of dengue found in Pangasinan patients based on the blood cultures analyzed so far.
Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, said these strains were a non-violent type found mostly among patients from western Pangasinan and the violent type that appeared to afflict those from western Pangasinan.
Canto said the violent type of dengue was what attacked two patients who have died, one of them from western Pangasinan. These, he said, were the first casualties from dengue, Canto said.
He added that the boy died a few minutes after arrival because when he was admitted at R1MC, his platelet count had dropped to as low as 2 to 4 as he already had continuous bleeding.
The normal platelet count of a person is from 150 to 300, he said.
Dengue patients need fresh platelets to replace those destroyed by the virus that cause the disease.
Canto said from August 1 to 27, a total of 65 dengue patients had already been admitted to R1MC compared to 60 patients admitted for the whole month of July.
Dengue cases are expected to rise some more this September because the rainy season is not yet over.
The R1MC is the usual destination of dengue patients in Pangasinan because it is the only hospital in the Ilocos Region that has a blood separator machine thus assuring them of a ready supply of blood platelets.
Acquired by R1MC two years ago, the blood separator machine separates all ingredients of the blood, like the Packed RBC, frozen plasma and platelet concentrates.
In the past, Canto said the hospital placed the blood on standby for many hours till the serum is separated.
With the blood separator, platelet concentrates are now available any time the patient needs it. If not for this machine, the hospital could be still buying its supply of blood platelets from Manila for use by its dengue patients, he said.
Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, said these strains were a non-violent type found mostly among patients from western Pangasinan and the violent type that appeared to afflict those from western Pangasinan.
Canto said the violent type of dengue was what attacked two patients who have died, one of them from western Pangasinan. These, he said, were the first casualties from dengue, Canto said.
He added that the boy died a few minutes after arrival because when he was admitted at R1MC, his platelet count had dropped to as low as 2 to 4 as he already had continuous bleeding.
The normal platelet count of a person is from 150 to 300, he said.
Dengue patients need fresh platelets to replace those destroyed by the virus that cause the disease.
Canto said from August 1 to 27, a total of 65 dengue patients had already been admitted to R1MC compared to 60 patients admitted for the whole month of July.
Dengue cases are expected to rise some more this September because the rainy season is not yet over.
The R1MC is the usual destination of dengue patients in Pangasinan because it is the only hospital in the Ilocos Region that has a blood separator machine thus assuring them of a ready supply of blood platelets.
Acquired by R1MC two years ago, the blood separator machine separates all ingredients of the blood, like the Packed RBC, frozen plasma and platelet concentrates.
In the past, Canto said the hospital placed the blood on standby for many hours till the serum is separated.
With the blood separator, platelet concentrates are now available any time the patient needs it. If not for this machine, the hospital could be still buying its supply of blood platelets from Manila for use by its dengue patients, he said.
