Travelers looking to travel to the Philippines, should be
aware of the destination’s main health issues and risks.
The Philippines is a popular travel destination in Southeast
Asia. If you are headed there soon, there are several
health risks that you need to be aware of. Consult a
doctor before departure. Your doctor or health-care
provider will determine what you will need, depending on
factors such as your health and immunization history,
areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned
activities. Here’s a list of the three most common health
risks in the Philippines and how to avoid them
Dengue-fever is a mosquito-born disease and is
often common during the wet season, which lasts
from May to November. Its symptoms include high
fever, body rash, headache and vomiting, which may
be complicated by hemorrhage or shock. If you
contract the disease, you will need a lot of fluids so
as to avoid dehydration. Dengue fever can be deadly
and very painful. Unlike the mosquitoes that cause
malaria, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.
There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. Prevention
centers on avoiding mosquito bites when traveling to
areas where dengue occurs.
Prevention:
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Make sure to use insect or mosquito repellent on your skin,
especially uncovered parts.
Choose air-conditioned accommodation and use mosquito
nets.
When outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting,
wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.
Diarrhea-Bad sanitation is a cause of diarrhea, so
always bring anti-diarrheal meds with you. While it’s
fun to go to wet markets and try out food at holein-wall eateries, some of them may not be well
sanitized. Use your common sense when trying out
street food, i.e. does the food look freshly cooked,
has it been cooked at high temperature?
Prevention:

Remember to wash your hands before eating,
preferably with soap, to minimize risks.
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Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been
peeled or cooked.
Avoid cooked foods that are no longer hot. Cooked
foods that have been left at room (or sun)
temperature are particularly hazardous.
Avoid drinking tap water, unless boiled, filtered or
chemically disinfected.
Avoid drinks with ice cubes.
Influenza and Pneumonia-World
Health Rankings
provides that Influenza and Pneumonia deaths in the
Philippines account for nearly 10 percent of deaths in the
Philippines annually. Influenza and Pneumonia are not the
same thing. Influenza is a very contagious virus that
produces flu-like symptoms, while pneumonia is an infection
that causes your lungs to fill up with fluid and puss. Both
can be deadly if left untreated.
The best ways to avoid becoming ill with influenza and
pneumonia include avoiding close contact with those that
are sick, staying home when you’re sick, washing your
hands frequently, and avoid touching your eyes, and nose.
Avoiding pneumonia specifically requires catching your
symptoms early since pneumonia often follows other
respiratory infections. If your symptoms persist for more
than a few days, make sure to see a doctor right away.
Tuberculosis- often referred to as TB, is
responsible for 5% of deaths in the Philippines each
year. TB is an extremely contagious infection that
attacks the lungs, but has the ability to spread to
other parts of the body such as your brain and
spine. The symptoms of TB are similar to those of
the cold and flu, and must be diagnosed with either
a skin or blood test. General symptoms of TB
include: a cough that lasts more than three weeks,
persistent chest pain, coughing up blood, excessive
tiredness, night sweats, chills, fever, loss of
appetite, and weight loss.
The World Health Organization estimates that onethird of the world’s population is infected with the
bacteria that cause TB. Thankfully, there are
things you can do lessen your chances of getting
infected with TB such as reducing the amount of
time you spend in stuffy enclosed rooms with anyone
who has TB, using protective measures such as a
face mask if you work in a medical setting, and
getting vaccinated against TB.
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HIV/Aids-While the prevalence of HIV and AIDS
in the Philippines is still low, the country is one of
only seven countries globally where the number of
new HIV cases has increased by over 25 per cent
from 2001 to 2009. New infections are largely
concentrated among key populations with specific
risk behaviors, such as unprotected male-to-male
sex, transactional sex and intravenous drug use.
Primary prevention of HIV infection for key
populations has to start in adolescence mainly
because infections now occur at a younger age: 20–
29. On average, the initiation to sex and drug use
is between 14 and 19 years old.
Further, only five per cent of HIV-positive pregnant
women have received antiretroviral medicines to
prevent mother-to-child transmission. Very few of
those at-risk have taken an HIV test, with the
number at zero for those under 18 years.
RAFAEL G. ARCANGEL
10A-EXCELLENCE
HEALTH
CONCERNS
IN THE
PHILIPPINES