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A view of the facade of the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on June 9, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

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Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Patients confined at the San Lazaro Hospital for leptospirosis are experiencing moderate to severe forms of the disease, a hospital official said on Monday.These include both adult and pediatric patients – some of whom are undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, according to Dr. David Suplico, San Lazaro Hospital’s Chief Medical Professional Staff. Health experts have repeatedly warned the public against wading through flood water and take prophylaxis in case it cannot be avoided.The Leptospira bacteria spreads by being carried by flood until it enters the human body through breaks and wounds in the skin and mucosal membranes in the mouth, nose, and eyes. Severe forms of leptospirosis affects one’s kidneys – which is why patients are made to undergo dialysis. But Suplico warns that it can also affect other organs in the body. “Aatakihin niya ‘yung kidney niyo. Dito po ‘yung ihi nila kumokonti at kailangan silang i-dialysis. Pwede ring atakihin ang lungs ng pasyente. Dito po hirap huminga, pwedeng i-hook sa mechanical ventilator. Or sa puso; bibilis ang tibok ng puso. Pinaka-worse is pwedeng umakyat sa brain. Dito po nagiging comatose ‘yung pasyente,” he said. (The bacteria attacks the kidney. Urination is reduced thus the need for dialysis. It could also affect the lungs leading to difficulty in breathing and needing mechanical ventilator. The heart beats faster when it’s affected. The worst case happens when the brain is infected, leading to patients to be in a state of comatose.)The Philippine Red Cross, according to Suplico, has augmented staffing requirements as the number of patient admissions reaches its peak. Other hospitals are also said to have provided additional aid. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), which raised concerns last week over the rising number of leptospirosis cases, is also said to have transferred some patients to other hospitals. “Marami pa rin ang pasyente na [may] leptospirosis. Mabuti na lang nagkaroon ng augmentation ng nurses at nursing aide. Meron ding hospital na naililipat ang ibang pasyente. Kahapon may 12 na nailipat sa Tala Hospital,” said NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Liquete.(We still have many leptospirosis patients. The good things is there has been augmentation of nurses and nursing aides. Some patients were also transferred to other hospitals. Yesterday, 12 were transferred to Tala Hospital.)Leptospirosis is a preventable disease. On Monday, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said he plans to talk to local government units and recommend that they strictly prohibit their constituents from swimming in flood waters. “Dito sa atin kapag may baha, naglalabasan lahat – may salbabida pa, nagsuswimming, nagta-tumbling pa. So ang feeling ko hindi siya communication problem; behavior problem siya. So it’s a change in behavior na kailangan nating magawa na pagbawalan talaga ang kabataan,” Herbosa said.(Whenever we experiencing flooding, many go out. Some even swim with floaters while others tumble in floodwaters. I feel it’s not a communication problem but a behavioral one. We really need to prohibit them from doing it, especially the youth.)

Patients confined at the San Lazaro Hospital for leptospirosis are experiencing moderate to severe forms of the disease, a hospital official said on Monday.

Patients confined at the San Lazaro Hospital for leptospirosis are experiencing moderate to severe forms of the disease, a hospital official said on Monday.

Most leptospirosis patients in San Lazaro Hospital moderate to severe

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Most leptospirosis patients in San Lazaro Hospital moderate to severe

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 12, 2024 10:04 PM PHT

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leptospirosis

San Lazaro Hospital

NKTI

DOH

Ted Herbosa

ABSNews

Department of Health

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