Leptospirosis

the kids' first adventure in floodwater

The Department of Health in the Philippines warns the public on leptospirosis after the floodings in Manila.

With the recent spate of flooding in the country, the cases of leptospirosis rises and this is a cause for concern.

I am ashamed to admit that I havent heard of 'leptospirosis' until a few months after arriving in Manila. The first time that the house we were renting got flooded (see photo above); we treated the flood as an adventure. I even let the kids play, collect trash floating around (my eldest told me the trash would prevent the water from receeding) and let them experience 'flood.'

And then when I was proudly showing the photos to friends; a doctor mentioned to me about leptospirosis. He said it is very dangerous to let people wad in floodwater because of this condition.

Leptospirosis is caused by swallowing the bacteria directly from water, absorbing it through cuts in the skin, or through food. Although the disease is commonly associated with rat urine, infection can also come from animals like cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and wild animals. The bacteria live in freshwater and are killed immediately by heat, disinfectant, acids and alkalis.

The disease’s incubation period is seven to 12 days after exposure. Symptoms may appear suddenly as early as four days after exposure, or as late as 21 days. Common signs and symptoms are flu-like and include fever, a red skin rash and general weakness. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting, and fatigue are also common. Incubation period may last up to a month. Death may also occur.

Anyone with a history of wading in floodwaters and who has the symptoms of the disease should consult the nearest doctor or health facility for treatment immediately.

Other guidelines to prevent the disease are as follows:
- All drinking water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least five minutes and preferably up to 20 minutes.
- Fresh vegetables and fruits should be washed in clean water before cooking or peeling
- Use protective gears like rubber boots and gloves if you want to wade in floodwaters
- Make sure that all things (furnitures, appliances, etc) that were under floodwaters are thoroughly soaped and washed

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The typhoons that damaged a part of the Philippines left a lot of people displaced: Now I am using my blog to let you know that there are many schools rendered 'useless' by the typhoon; thus there is the Adopt-a-School Program. There are more than 100 schools who need help such as notebooks, pens and pencils, papers, etc... Or you could email me for more information at die_erhards@yahoo.de

MANILA, Philippines — The Inquirer is publishing the list of Metro Manila public schools damaged by Tropical Storm “Ondoy.” The Inquirer hopes that benefactors will rush to help meet the urgent needs of these places of learning for the nation’s children.
Please adopt a school now. To find out how to do so, please contact Inquirer Learning editor Chelo Banal Formoso at 897-8808 to 09 local 399, (Sun) 0922-8182942, (Smart) 0918-3824061. Here are the list of schools: click

Generosity

There were repairmen in the house this hot afternoon.

After their work, we offered them a pitcher of iced tea and some biscuits.

When MC chanced upon them snacking, she saw that it was the pack of biscuit that their Papa bought for them as a surprise gift when he left town a week before.

'Mama, how could you give that biscuit to those men? Papa told me the biscuits are for kids only,' she pointed out. Good thing she spoke in German because she told me off right in front of the repairmen!

I told her I am sorry that I didnt know the biscuits were reserved for the kids. I told her I am sure they would not eat all those biscuits. I told her the men needed something to eat because they worked so hard.

And I explained to her that next time, if she wanted to say something like that, she could ask me to go to a private place with her. It is not good when other people would hear that they are not supposed to eat something that was already served to them.

She nodded. She went out and came back with a handful of the biscuits that she munched on. And she hurried to the kitchen, coming out with a bunch of bananas in her hand saying, 'I didnt get all the biscuits. But I am bringing bananas to the men so that they would have enough to eat.'

Being Satisfied

Calming her down after a long and loud tantrum, I told my seven-year-old year MC that it would have been simplier if she told us first what she wanted; explained to us what she needed; expressed her thoughts -- before exploding in tears and screaming on everybody who would try to talk to her.

'You could always let us know first because we would not understand if you start crying,' I hugged her to me. 'We would listen to you and try to work it out.'

Her answer? 'I would not be satisfied because sometimes you wont agree to what I wanted,' she grinned.

Well, I explained to her that sometimes what she wanted isnt always good for her.