Simple steps you can take to combat dengue fever mosquitoes - Tips from China

• CNA
 
• 2015-09-11
 
• 14:13 (GMT+8)

Patients in an emergency room at a hospital in Tainan, Sept. 10. (Photo/Cheng Ping-chang)

The dengue fever outbreak in Taiwan has now climbed to over 7,000 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

With the rapid spread of the disease, there has been a secondary outbreak of old wives' tales, false tonics and cures, but to really make a difference, you'll need a proper understanding of the vector mosquitoes and the most effective prevention measures.

30 minute rapid screening:

The CDC is currently offering free tests for the rapid diagnosis of dengue fever in Tainan and Kaohsiung and the results are available after only 20-30 minutes. A single line indicates no infection, while two lines means a positive result for the disease. Rapid screening is not considered necessary for those who do not have any clinical symptoms of the disease.

Suspected dengue symptoms:

The symptoms of dengue fever include fever, bone and joint pain, back pain, muscle pain, retro-orbital (behind the eye) pain, rashes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

High-risk groups:

People with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and the elderly, are especially vulnerable to complications or death as a result of the disease and should be given extra attention during a dengue outbreak.

Life cycle of dengue fever mosquito

Get to know your enemy:

The current dengue virus in Taiwan is being spread by the yellow fever mosquito, which is characterized by a black body, white markings on its legs and a marking on its thorax in the shape of a lyre.

To a lesser extent, the tiger mosquito, characterized by black and white striped legs and a vertical white stripe on its chest, can also spread the disease.

The yellow fever mosquito (aedes aegypti) is a container-inhabiting mosquito that thrives in urban areas and often invades people's homes. The mosquitoes usually can be seen perched in dark, damp, unventilated corners in areas such as the kitchen and the bedroom and on dark curtains and dark hanging clothes.

The tiger mosquito's (aedes albopictus) habitat is mainly outdoors and it favors cool spots such as potted plants, piles of old tires, trees and bushes near its breeding site, bamboo groves and empty premises.

Feeding habits:

An infected female yellow fever mosquito is mainly active during the day when it hunts for blood. The mosquitoes primarily seek human blood and are at their peak in the afternoon from 4-5pm, with a lesser peak from 9am-10am.

Tiger mosquitoes have two peak feeding times, 1-2 hours before dawn and 2-3 hours before sunset. They are most ravenous during the evening period.

Yellow fever mosquitoes are mainly found in cities and counties south of Chiayi, including Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and Penghu, while tiger mosquitoes are most prevalent in Taiwan's island plains and areas below 1,500 meters at the foot of the mountains.

Tried and true methods:

Home Protection:

1. Homes should be fitted with window screens and screen doors. It's best to hang mosquito nets while sleeping. Spray area repellent on the screens and screen doors to further keep the mosquitoes at bay.

2. Remove unneeded containers and unused flower pots, and turn all containers that could collect water upside down.

3. Dark areas in the home and basement should be inspected on a regular basis.

4. Use mosquito lamps.

5. Flower pots and water containers in the home must be cleaned at least once a week. Remember to scrub the insides clean.

6. If you are growing aquatic plants indoors, in addition to changing the water often, you can also place small stones in the bottom of the pots. The water level should be higher than the top of stones, as this will prevent larvae development.

Outdoor protection:

1. Reduce the amount of time you're outdoors in the early morning and at dusk.

2. Wear light-colored, long sleeved clothing.

3. Spray all exposed skin with insect repellent that contain DEET (diethyltoluamide), as this is the only product that has empirically been proven to repel mosquitoes.

DEET:

Products containing DEET (diethyltoluamide) and that have been approved by Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been tested for effectiveness, safety and quality pre-market. It has been established that normal use does not produce toxicity, can affect mosquito olfaction and has smear efficacy that can be maintained for a few hours. It is the recommended product for those spending long hours outdoors or in areas where mosquitoes proliferate.

Other products such as citronella:

Essential oils have are popular for those seeking a "natural" option. Common products include citronella oil, lemon oil and other amines, typically come in the form of herbal oils, sprays and wrist rings. Such products offer only short-term protection at best and mainly serve as supplementary protection to products with DEET. The effectiveness of such products in repelling mosquitoes is still unconfirmed.

In addition, some Chinese Indonesians have claimed that eating red guava will help repel the yellow fever mosquito and stave off the disease, but the CDC said that this only aids rehydration. As a high fever and low blood pressure can lead to dehydration, the CDC recommends drinking lots of water and unsweetened fruit juice.

Source

Vaccination FAQs - Influenza Vaccine in india - Which Brand to use?

Q: My kids are 9 and 6 years of age ...they received vaxigrip vaccine for influenza last year ...I`d like to give them this year the flu vaccine ...is it o.k to take any brand name like influvac or should it be always vaxigrip like the one they received before?

Ans. 

All brands are equally effective, you can take anyone.

Also there is a Nasal Flu vaccine available (Nasovac S) that can be used as well this year.

When & how to tell your child that he/ she has been adopted?

Five ways to keep the lines of communication open - Tips from the Parenting Magazine

 Tags: Raising an Adopted Child

By Karen Miles312

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When Katy Mobley was 3 days old, her parents sent out adoption announcements to their family and friends. Early on, they also made a point of regularly telling their daughter how wonderful it was to have adopted her. "From the moment we brought Katy home, we wanted her to feel that her adoption was a positive event," says her mother, Marilynn, of Marietta, GA.

Katy, now 14, feels comfortable asking her mom and dad questions about her biological parents. The Mobleys are convinced that they can communicate so freely because they were open about their daughter's adoption from the get-go.

Most experts agree with the Mobleys' approach and suggest that parents talk openly about their child's adoption, even during infancy, to set a good tone for later on, when children will want to explore their feelings on the issue. Ultimately, an open atmosphere helps them to grow into self-assured adults, says Lois Ruskai Melina, author of Raising Adopted Children.

Of course, a child's understanding of adoption changes as she matures. Most kids don't start to grasp the concept until age 5 or 6, but if they've been prepared, they won't be shocked when the story does click.

Here are five ways to keep the lines of communication open:

-Use the word "adoption" regularly. The word shouldn't become your primary focus, but say it when it feels natural. This way "adoption" never becomes taboo.

-Share stories. Read books about adoption, such as The Day We Met You, by Phoebe Koehler, and Let's Talk About It: Adoption, by Fred Rogers. Or weave your own tale: Richard Gellerman, of Tucson, AZ, told his 1-year-old daughter, Kayla, about a little squirrel whose parents didn't have enough nuts to give her, but were able to find another mother and father who did. "Kayla didn't yet grasp the fact that she was adopted," Gellerman says, "but the story helped to introduce her to the concept."

-Create a memory book. Little kids love seeing what they looked like as babies and learning about their own history, even if they don't understand every aspect. When Katy Mobley was 1, her mother showed her photos of the day they brought her home. There was even a snapshot of the adoption agency.

-Take cues from your child. If she asks, "Did I grow in your tummy?" explain pregnancy and birth in the context of her own experience. Say, "You grew inside your birth mother, another woman, and then you came to live with us." If your child doesn't express much interest in her adoption, don't dwell on it. You can be sure at some point she'll need to learn more. Once a 5-year-old becomes fascinated with the human life cycle, she'll want to know everything—from where she came from to how she relates to her immediate and extended family.

-Be patient. While your child might acknowledge that she's adopted, she won't really know what that means until she understands conception and pregnancy, says Sharon Kaplan Roszia, an adoptive mother, and a program manager for the Kinship Center adoption agency, in Santa Ana, CA. So don't become frustrated if your child doesn't seem to "get it," Roszia notes. It's perfectly natural for her to ask questions—sometimes even the same ones over and over again.

Who Else Should Know?

Doctors: Supply your pediatrician with the birth parents' medical records, if you have them. Also let him know about the quality of prenatal care received by the birth mother. Both could have an influence on your child's health.

Teachers: Tell them on a need-to-know basis. For instance, if your child has a genetic tendency toward learning difficulties, informing teachers might help to make sure his educational needs are met.

Friends and Family: Share the full story with them only after your child knows it.

Saying the Right Thing

When your child asks about his adoption, be honest, but don't think that you have to explain everything at once. It's fine to wait until he's older to tell him more, especially if you think the truth might confuse or hurt him (which could be the case if he was abandoned). Just don't say anything untrue, because you may have to contradict it later.

DO...
Emphasize that there's nothing wrong with him. Explain that he was given up for adoption because his biological parents were unable to care for a baby at that time.

Stress that adoption is permanent, so your child won't worry that you'll give him up someday, too.

Talk about your child's birth mother and father. Otherwise, he might conclude that his adoptive father is his birth father.

Encourage your child to discuss his emotions.

DON'T...
Tell a child that she was given up "out of love." She may worry that if you love her, you'll give her up, too.

Say that you "chose" her. In order to be chosen by you, she might conclude that she was unwanted by someone else.

Denigrate the birth mother or father. They have a real connection with your child.

Expect her to come to terms with her adoption immediately. Many kids surprise parents with emotional reactions at age 7 or 8.

Comment: As a Pediatrician and an Adoptive Father, this is something that is close to my heart, and understandably tough for many parents.

In India, we have an additional problem of taboo surrounding the word "adoption". Thus many parents completely refuse to tell this to their adopted child.

While every case is different, I would agree with most child caring experts in that we should tell about adoption to children, and start this in a natural way, so that there is no sudden shock if they learn about this unexpectedly from someone else..

I would love to hear the opinion of Indian parents about this sensitive topic.