Bolivia: Dealing With Dengue Fever
Heavy rains in the Bolivian Orient cause destruction to crops and private home because of heavy flooding. However, they also help create the breeding ground for mosquitos that spread the virus that causes dengue fever. The symptoms include severe headaches, muscle and joint pains. There is also a much more severe form which causes dengue hemorrhagic fever and has already caused 3 deaths in the country.
As Erika Pinto of Alkolica [es] writes, dengue fever has already hit the city of Santa Cruz, and she hopes that it doesn't spread to her native city of Trinidad.
Blogger Willy Andrés in Santa Cruz has had first-hand experience dealing with dengue fever [es]:
Esta muy complicado esto del dengue por estos rumbos; no es de tenerlo en poco, especialmente viendo testimonios de personas que han quedado marcadas de por vida por no tratar a tiempo y como debe ser esa enfermedad. Y pensar que todo esto es por culpa de un insecto tan peqeño, al final de todo… ¡qué débiles somos!.
He tenido el tiempo en que pasé por esa enfermedad, no es nada agradable sinceramente, los dolores en las articulaciones, en los músculos… es como si te hubieran pegado.
Around here, dengue is very complicated, it is not to underestimate it, especially when one sees testimonials of perople who are marked for life because it wasn't treated in time, which is very important with this illness. And to think that all of this is the fault of such a small insect, and in the end, we are very weak!
There was a time when I had this illness, and to tell you the truth, it is not very nice, the pains in one's joints, muscles.. it is as if someone had beat you up.
Now, he is helping his wife who has recently come down with dengue. In addition, she is 3 months pregnant, which adds another level of worry. They went to various clinics around Santa Cruz and it wasn't until the second clinic where they received the proper medical attention. Things are much better and the baby was unaffected. He adds:
gracias a Dios, Sara esta mucho mejor y con los medicamentos indicados. A cuidarse del dengue.
Thank God, Sara is much better and is taking the right medicines. Protect yourself from dengue.
