The major complication of chikungunya is that it can cause serious harm to children and older adults. Archive
Infectious disease specialist Clemente Terrero yesterday called on the population to participate in the elimination of mosquito breeding sites that transmit diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. However, the latter has yet to be reported in the country.
To avoid situations like the one that occurred a decade ago when hundreds of thousands of Dominicans contracted chikungunya, the doctor understands that it is necessary to protect oneself from the bite of the Aedes aegypti.
The also director of the Robert Reid Cabral hospital warned that chikungunya could cause lesions in different body organs, such as the heart and kidneys. By way of example, he cited meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, and pericarditis, among others.
Greater danger
Children and adolescents could be at greater risk should chikungunya spread in the country as it did in 2014.
The Dominican Republic has been under epidemiological alert since the World Health Organization spoke of the presence of the disease in The Americas.
Mosquito control Authorities advise eliminating standing water where mosquitoes could lay their eggs.
Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover, or throw away any items that accumulate water, such as tires, buckets, flower pots, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, flower pot dishes, and garbage containers.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water.
Protecting yourself from mosquitoes
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends controlling mosquitoes inside and outside your home. These include using window and door screens; using air conditioning if one is available; sleeping under mosquito netting if rooms don’t have air conditioning or screens on doors and windows, or if you sleep outside.
“Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover or throw away any items that collect water such as tires, buckets, flower pots, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, planter dishes and garbage containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water.”
For children and infants, CDC recommends protecting infants and children from mosquito bites and dressing in clothing that covers the arms and legs. “When using insect repellent on children: Always follow directions when applying insect repellent to children.
Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under three years of age.”
It also urges not to apply insect repellent to children’s hands and eyes or cut or irritated skin.