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Manuel Dexterity

Nov 7, 2009, 11:44 AM

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Dengue A word of caution

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I am now into the 10th day of a case of dengue fever. At the present time there are, according to the health authorities, more cases than the AH1N1. This is the second time around for me, which is usually a more severe case. This is the sickest I can recall ever being, including a nearly fatal bout with typhoid at a remote Tabasco sawmill many years ago. A couple of days ago I was almost ready to welcome my demise I felt so sick.

I enjoy excellent health and that definitely helped tremendously in my recovery but I know some posters around here might not be as fortunate. Especially anyone with any immune system compromise. So make sure you take all precautions.

.

Rolly

Nov 7, 2009, 12:39 PM

Post #2 of 21 (6422 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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I hope it's soon only a bad memory.

I had la dengue in Manzanillo many years ago. I still remember how very unpleasant it was.

It seems to be all over the country. Even up here on the desert, we are in the midst of a dengue epidemic. There's an article about it in the paper almost every day.

Rolly Pirate

Marlene

Nov 7, 2009, 12:50 PM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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You are quite right. That's no fun at all. Dengue is a also a bigger concern to us, personally, than the H1N1. They have been spraying for mosquitoes again, especially since the big storm passed through. We carry repellent with us wherever we go, and always end up sharing it with others.

esperanza

Nov 7, 2009, 1:04 PM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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At least you're well enough to sit at the computer for a few minutes--that sounds like progress. Please take good care of yourself, and let others take good care of you.

A good friend in Jalisco is recovering from hemorrhagic dengue. I hope yours is the other kind.

Deja saber como sigues, por favor.

Best thoughts to you...

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

wendy devlin

Nov 7, 2009, 2:12 PM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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Get better soon, Man.

Our daughter and her novio got one of the lesser dengue strains. It rendered them flat for a few days, barely able to care for their new baby. The newborn baby, thankfully did not get sick. In rural Colima(also dengue also breaks out in cities) it is more often the very young children that die, from the hemorragic strain, compared to other sectors of the population.

Where we used to walk everyday in the countryside, there are signs with a super-large 'white' mosquito and a public health warning. There is both a lot of standing water, irrigation canals, marshes etc. in the state, so it's a disease(2nd in frequency to malaria in the world) that people have to live with. In this largely agricultural area, aerial spraying for dengue was common.

Last year a team of researchers from Mexico and South Africa used Google Earth to create a simple, inexpensive mapping tool to help fight vector-borne diseases like dengue.

http://www.scidev.net/...gies_spacetechnology

mazbook1

Nov 7, 2009, 3:11 PM

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Re: [wendy devlin] Dengue A word of caution

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I sure hate to tell you this, Sr. Dexterity and Rolly, but there are four distinct strains of dengue, so you can look forward to getting it again (and again, and again, and again). The really bad thing about this is that at least one study has shown that the more times you have had dengue (less than four, of course) the greater the chance that the next time will be the hemorrhagic version. That's the bad news.

The good news for the rest of us is that just a short while back there was a news item (don't remember where) about researchers finally having some limited success at producing a vaccine for dengue. That sure would be welcomed in México!

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Nov 7, 2009, 3:13 PM)

Manuel Dexterity

Nov 7, 2009, 5:22 PM

Post #7 of 21 (6310 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Dengue A word of caution

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Maz, do you really think Rolly or I would not be fully informed to the dangers of dengue? Come on man, I gave you hell several years ago on another board for recommending aspririn to alleviate the fever.

Actually the young doctor that saw me is a internal medicine resident at the Hospital Civil here in Guadalajara. They see most of the cases here in the area. Residencies at the Hospital Civil are plum appointments given only to the very top med school grads. These kids are sharp, very motivated and completely dedicated.

sparks

Nov 7, 2009, 5:24 PM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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I guess I should be a little more mindful of things like this .... but I had Dengue about 3 years ago in Melaque. At least everyone said I had it. I just remember the body pain and no energy. I guess the symptoms are enough to tell you you have it but I was never sure. Also don't remember what I took 'cept maybe for pain

Get well soon man

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

mazbook1

Nov 8, 2009, 12:56 PM

Post #9 of 21 (6217 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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Sr. Dexterity, I was totally certain that both you and Rolly already knew what I posted, BUT a lot of newbies might not know those sorts of details, and it was for their edification that I posted. I just used you and Rolly as the justification.

Georgia

Nov 8, 2009, 2:34 PM

Post #10 of 21 (6200 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution and a nifty repellant

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We don't see many mosquitos here in el Chante on Lake Chapala, but at our house in Tlaquepaque, part of Guadalajara, there are a zillion .... well, maybe two zillion. My husband and I used to camp in the Maine woods. So, we are mosquito specialists of a a sort, also specialists in the dreaded "black fly season." Nasty. Anyway, at a camping supply store we bought these little electronic gadgets you hang on your belt. I also have one on the canopy of my bed. When turned on it emits a very high pitched sound - almost inaudible to the average over 60 year old. Mosquitos hate this sound. I have watched them approach me earnestly only to arrive within range of the beep and abruptly turn away as if I had an invisible shield. I imagine they could be purchased online. Ours have worked for years and really are effective. In our municipality in Guadalajara the health department came through and fumigated every house that agreed to be fumigated and came back a week later for a treatment against mosquito larvae for the aljibes and tinacos. All very effective. Of course, now the weather has turned chilly and we don't see as many mosquitos - so I guess it's H1N1 season.

HarryinNM

Nov 8, 2009, 3:49 PM

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Re: [Georgia] Dengue A word of caution and a nifty repellant

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Well, there's a suggestion from an excellent source. We, too, have extensive experience with the mosquitos and the black flies of Maine. We continue to follow the antics of those who stage the Annual Black Fly Festival in Machias. We didn't camp much in the Maine woods... we lived in the woods of Downeast Washington County where the repellent of choice was some sort of hand cream available only from the "Avon Lady."
We have found the early evening mosquito attack in Cuyutlan more than aggressive.

(This post was edited by HarryinNM on Nov 8, 2009, 3:56 PM)

Georgia

Nov 8, 2009, 4:48 PM

Post #12 of 21 (6161 views)

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Re: [HarryinNM] Dengue A word of caution and a nifty repellant

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The very most effective repellant that you could apply to your clothes and skin was "Old Times Woodsman's Liquid Fly Dope." The stuff was ghastly, but it worked. I used to apply it to the brim of my hat. No more no see 'ums. No mosquitos either. But what a stench: it repelled muggers, rapists, unwanted house guests, pickpockets and mosquitos. Once I couldn't remember where I had left it in my camper so I "sniffed" it out. Found it, too.

The little beeper thingie is a lot more socially acceptable.

Hound Dog

Nov 9, 2009, 8:48 AM

Post #13 of 21 (6074 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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Sorry to hear of your illness Sr. Dexterity.

I do want to thank you for the warning about Dengue which sounds really terrible and dangerous. It is my habit to walk my dog daily from our home in Ajijic along about eight kilometers of lakefront and village streets and, thanks to your timely warning, I´m loading upon deet before I go again and will forego reading in my garden without being fully dreaased and prottected with deet. My wife tells me that Dengue is a very big problem in the Ajijic area so I advise everyone to be cautious until this problem has subsided.

sioux4noff

Nov 9, 2009, 9:07 AM

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Re: [mazbook1] Dengue A word of caution

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Quote

the more times you have had dengue (less than four, of course) the greater the chance that the next time will be the hemorrhagic version

That would statistically be the case since it is my understanding that you can only get each strain one time. Our local doctor, who is very knowledgeable of dengue, siad that of the 4 strains, classic and hemoragic are more prevelent, the others quite rare.

Manuel Dexterity

Nov 9, 2009, 10:48 AM

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Re: [sioux4noff] Dengue A word of caution

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In Reply To

Quote

the more times you have had dengue (less than four, of course) the greater the chance that the next time will be the hemorrhagic version

I am not an expert but I have informed myself enough to know that there are 4 serotypes of the virus. None are specifically hemorraghic strains. The danger lies in a secondary infection from a second strain once the body has developed immunity to any one of the 4 strains responsible for the first infection. Basically the immune system becomes confused and renders itself ineffective against the second strain.

Rolly

Nov 9, 2009, 11:22 AM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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Manny is right. HDF is not one of the four forms of dengue. It's the body's screwed up response triggered by a previous infection.

The four viruses that cause dengue have been given the exciting names of DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and of course, DEMV-4.

Rolly Pirate

sioux4noff

Nov 9, 2009, 2:15 PM

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Re: [Rolly] Dengue A word of caution

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Thanks for the info. I guess I misunderstood.

Manuel Dexterity

Nov 11, 2009, 2:08 PM

Post #18 of 21 (5878 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Dengue A word of caution

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Two large bowls of my wife's incomparable carne en su jugo, one whole avocado and six tortillas tells me that I am well on my way to a complete recovery.

The threat of dengue has yet to subside even with the cooler, drier weather, according to local health officials. So keep on your toes.

La Isla

Nov 11, 2009, 3:56 PM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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MD, glad to hear that your appetite has returned, which means you must be on the road to a complete recovery!

After reading this cautionary thread, I was wondering if cases of dengue fever (even the name sounds rather ominous) have been known to occur in Mexico City.

Marlene

Nov 12, 2009, 12:17 AM

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Dengue A word of caution

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The Dengue patrols (from the Health Dept) have stepped it up a notch and instead of believing people who say they don't have a pila in the back yard, (or any standing water) are checking for themselves. They are climbing on rooftops and doing their own visual inspections of the yards, whether we are home or not! It freaked me out when the dogs started barking and I looked up and saw a guy in a bright yellow vest looking down at me. At the front gate, a second fellow who had ID, was asking the questions about the pila or any standing water. He put a sticker on the gate to say they had checked things out. His rooftop co-worker moved quickly down the block jumping from one house to the next. They are taking this seriously.

Papirex

Nov 12, 2009, 10:21 AM

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Re: [La Isla] Dengue A word of caution

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Yes, Dengue has been known to exist in México City, although I don't think it is common there. México City is my wifes' home town and she has many relatives there. She has never known, or heard of an individual that has contracted Dengue there, but in years past, there have been news reports about patients in hospitals there with Dengue fever.

A few years ago, Morelos state was reported to be the state with the highest incidence of Dengue fever in The Republic. I don't believe that for a minute, although it does exist here. Although an American man died of dengue here in Cuernavaca two years ago, and a friend of ours that lives in the village of Temixco at the southern edge of Cuernavaca had a severe case of Dengue two years ago. She asked my wife and her Mom not to risk visiting her because there were so many mosquitoes and cases of Dengue in Temixco that year.

In most areas, Cuernavaca is not noted for having lots of mosquitoes, but Dengue is such a serious disease that sensible precautions should be taken. A mosquito doesn't last long in our house. I have found that Raid brand insect spray is very effective at controlling them.

Our house is only seven years old, and has good screens on all of the windows, but no screen doors, and no way to easily add them due to the construction methods used here. We could hear a couple of mosquitoes buzzing around our bedroom at night after we went to bed, and after finding the third alacran on our bed, I knew I must do something about it. My wife said she saw the last scorpion climb down the wall and over the headboard to get on the bed.

The next day, I sprayed the whole room with Raid brand insect spray, under and behind all of the furniture, behind the headboard, and on all of the walls, including the master bathroom. By the time I finished, I was choking on the fumes. I closed the doors when I was finished. I went up about a half a day later and the fumes were still very strong, I then opened the windows, leaving the screens closed. By the time we went to bed that night, the fumes were all gone.

According the the can, Raid is supposed to be effective at controlling alacrans too. In the past year, we haven't had a mosquito or an alacran in our bedroom. I used to find, and kill a scorpion about every six months up there.

I also use Home Defense spray around the windows and doors to control pests, but I am now a believer in Raid too. Both of these insect sprays may be bought at Sams Club. The Raid is sold in blister packs of three cans.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo