The rainy season is upon us and we all know what it means – it’s Dengue season again. I suffered from Dengue twice already – once when I was in high school and the second time when I was in college. Thankfully, I didn’t need blood transfusion when I was admitted. Nevertheless, it is something I don’t want my family to experience. So what can we do to protect our family from Dengue?
First things first, what is Dengue?
Dengue is an infection borne by mosquitoes. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical countries like the Philippines. Based on my experience, when you have Dengue, you feel like you just have the flu. As in you have really high fever, your body is aching everywhere, and you don’t feel like eating. What prompted my parents to bring me to the emergency room is my lack of appetite and frequent nosebleeds. If not addressed right away, Dengue can develop into a lethal illness called Severe Dengue or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
There is no specific medication for Dengue, but early detection can lower the risk of death to below 1%. Still, the thought that there is still a small percentage of fatality even when detected and treated early is scary.
So, what can we do?
Our best armor against Dengue is to prevent the mosquitoes carrying the infection from residing in our homes. A few things you can do:
- Get rid of stagnant water. If you keep fresh flowers on vases and flower pots, be sure to change/remove the water in your vases and flower pot plates every other day.
- If you must store water, be sure that your containers have lids.
- Keep the surroundings clean and always dispose your trash properly.
I don’t like using the mosquito sprays we see in the grocery to get rid of those bugs since I don’t want to expose the minis to the health risks posed by these sprays. Instead, I turn to natural products that ward off mosquitoes as well. My favorites are:
100% Natural Bug Shield DEET-Free Oil
Human Heart Nature’s 100% natural bug shield is packed with a powerful punch that will surely make mosquitoes stay away. It is infused with soy bean oil and eucalyptus oil that will shoo mosquitoes away and keep you smelling good.
If you don’t like using oil, they have another variant of this mixture that comes in lotion form:
100% Natural Bug Shield DEET-Free Lotion
If you or your child do get bit by a mosquito or an ant, I highly recommend applying Human Heart Nature’s Sunflower Beauty Oil. I wrote about that product in my post here. You can order all these products online through the Human Heart Nature Website or from a branch near you.
I am also thinking of buying plants that repel mosquitoes. Here are some easy-to-grow plants that can repel mosquitoes in your home:
- Citronella
- Horsemint
- Marigolds
- Ageratum
- Catnip
What are you doing to protect your family from Dengue? Share your tips in the comments section below.
NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. Everything written here is from the author’s personal experience. Just to be sure, consult with your doctor first before trying new products.