MONKEYPOX: MUST KNOW FACTS

 

Covid- 19 is still here, but a new virus threatens us again. Yes, I'm talking about Monkeypox.

As of August 22, we have 4 reported cases of Monkeypox in the Philippines but the information about the virus remains largely unclear to many Filipinos. 

Although experts think that Monkeypox will unlikely become a pandemic, the cure and nature of the virus give the public heightened fear and anxiety. 

Philcare recently held a webinar with the help of an infectious disease expert, Dr. Christoper John N. Tibayan, RMT, MD FPCP DPSMID,  to shed light on this health threat, including how to prevent and treat it.

What is Monkeypox? 

Monkeypox is a virus usually transmitted from animals to people. However with the current outbreak right now, there's a transmission from one person to another. 

Monkeypox was first discovered in Asiatic monkeys found originally in tropical rainforests in Africa. Squirrels and rats can also be sources of the said virus. 

The usual symptoms of monkeypox infection in humans are fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over. However, some people could present asymptomatically or with no symptoms at all. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days. The duration of symptoms is typically two to four weeks.

Monkeypox belongs to the Poxviridae family, the same family virus as cowpox and smallpox. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of August 19, 2022, there are about 41,000 cases worldwide. Monkeypox can be transmitted from animal to human (primary infection) and human to human (secondary infection). Transmission is spread through skin to skin contact,  respiratory droplets, lesion materials, body fluids, contaminated materials, and surfaces that were touched or used by the case. 

According to Dr. Tibayan, Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but it is often transmitted through close and sustained physical contact. Such can include sexual contact with those who have rashes or open lesions.

It is important to isolate if you think that the rash looks like that of monkeypox and consult your doctors for proper guidance.

I know most of us are worried about how this virus affects us physically and if our HMO provider will cover this type of condition.

So if you want to ensure you're prepared this time, like me, log on to www.philcare.com.ph and choose from Philcare's affordable Prepaid Health Plans suited for you and your family's needs. Have the peace of mind that your HMO has your back!

PhilCare understands that healthcare goes a long way. They know that achieving overall wellness requires focus on many aspects of life, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This is why they come up with health plans designed to cover the distinct health needs of Filipinos. Along with this, PhilCare is taking advantage of the rapid technological advancements to ensure the quality and ease of customer experience.

Check out Philcare's Prepaid Health Plans :

💙 Dengue Assist (P599 Health Plan)- Dengue Assist is a single-use online plan that gives you up to P30,000 coverage on actual hospitalization expense incurred due to Dengue Disease.

💙 Dengue RX Plus for Adults (P299) - A health plan that covers a multiple-use benefit up to Php 30,000 for hospitalization due to Dengue. Accepted in more than 500 accredited hospitals.    

💙 Dengue RX Plus for Kids (P799)  -A health plan that covers a multiple-use benefit up to Php 30,000 for hospitalization due to Dengue. Accepted in more than 500 accredited hospitals nationwide.

💙 Dengue RX Plus for Family (P1,999)  - A health plan that covers a multiple-use benefit up to Php 30,000 for hospitalization due to Dengue. Accepted in more than 500 accredited hospitals nationwide.

🧡 PhilCare Agapay 700 (P700) - PhilCare Agapay700 is a health plan that covers a single-use benefit up to *Php40,000 for ambulance service, out-patient emergency care and hospitalization for viral, bacterial illnesses and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (excepts for stroke) in 500+ PhilCare-accredited hospitals.

🧡 PhilCare Rush (P1600) - PhilCare Rush is a health plan that covers a single-use benefit up to *Php50,000 for travel emergency assistance, ambulance service, out-patient emergency care and hospitalization for viral, bacterial illnesses and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (excepts for stroke) in 500+ PhilCare-accredited hospitals.

Digital Health Plans

💙 Single-use DigiMed Consult (P450) - This HeyPhil Digimed service provides one-time digital consultation access through the HeyPhil app. It covers primary care consultation with Family Medicine Specialists, Internal Medicine, and General Physician. Get access to virtual care for various conditions like allergies, asthma, hypertension, diarrhea, mild injuries, or other infections.

💙 Unli-DigiMed Consult (P999)  - This HeyPhil Digimed service provides all year round digital consultation access through the HeyPhil app. It covers primary care consultation with Family Medicine Specialists, Internal Medicine, and General Physician. Get access to virtual care for various conditions like allergies, asthma, hypertension, diarrhea, mild injuries, or other infections.

Emergency Health Plans

❤ ER shield (P800) - ER Shield is a single-use health plan that provides up to P50,000 coverage for outpatient emergency care for viral and bacterial illnesses and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals.

❤  ER Vantage Plus 40 for Adults (P1050) - A single-use healthcare plan that provides coverage of up to P40,000 for emergency care and hospitalization for viral and bacterial illnesses, treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals nationwide.

❤ ER Vantage Plus 40 for Kids (P2950) -

A single-use healthcare plan that provides coverage of up to P40,000 for emergency care and hospitalization for viral and bacterial illnesses, treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals nationwide.

❤  ER Vantage Plus 60 for Adults (P1350) - A single-use healthcare plan that provides coverage of up to P60,000 for emergency care and hospitalization for viral and bacterial illnesses, treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals nationwide.

❤ ER Vantage Plus 60 for Kids (P 3950) - A single-use healthcare plan that provides coverage of up to P60,000 for emergency care and hospitalization for viral and bacterial illnesses, treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ designated PhilCare-accredited hospitals nationwide.

❤ ER Health Assist 40 for Adults (P 1670)- ER Health Assist 40 is a health plan that covers multiple-use benefits for unlimited medical and dental consultations to Philcare Makati and MOA Clinics only and a single-use benefit up to Php 40,000 for outpatient emergency care and hospitalization coverage for viral, bacterial illnesses, and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ Philcare accredited hospitals nationwide.

Specialized Health Plans

💜 VidaCare CORE (P11,120) - Vida Care Core is a health plan that covers multiple-use benefits for unlimited medical and dental consultations to all accredited physicians nationwide and unlimited laboratory and diagnostics procedures available at Philcare-owned clinics only.

💜 VidaCare PREMIERE (P 13,270)  -Vida Care Premiere is a health plan that covers multiple-use benefits for unlimited medical and dental consultations to all accredited physicians nationwide and unlimited laboratory and diagnostics procedures available at Philcare-owned clinics only. This also covers a single-use benefit up to Php20,000 for outpatient emergency care for viral, bacterial illnesses, and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ Philcare accredited hospitals nationwide.

Medical Check-up Plans

💚 unli-CONSULT for 65 + (P5000) - This health plan allows you to avail unlimited consultation services for one (1) year from PhilCare-accredited network of medical specialists and dentists.

💚 unli- CONSULT for adults (P3600) - This health plan allows you to avail unlimited consultation services for one (1) year from PhilCare-accredited network of medical specialists and dentists nationwide.

💚 unli- CONSULT for kids (P3700) - This health plan allows you to avail unlimited consultation services for one (1) year from PhilCare-accredited network of pediatricians and dentists nationwide.

For more updates, please visit Philcare's website at www.philcare.com.ph.

Follow Philcare social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/philcareph), Twitter (twitter.com/philcareph), and Instagram (instagram.com/philcareph).

Licealiz together with Mommy Bloggers Philippines continue the battle against Head Lice Infestation in Kilusang Kontra Kuto Year 3

Did you know that according to a study conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University of the Philippines pediculosis or head lice is considered as the second most common health problem in public schools in the Philippines next to tooth decay? 

Head lice or "kuto" infestation is still a widespread condition in the country, but not enough attention goes into preventing and eliminating the persistent ailment. That's why Lamoiyan Corporation's Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo continues the battle against the public concerns dubbed as Kilusang Kontra Kuto (KKK) Year 3 held at Bagong Silangan Elementary School.

One head louse down! 👍

Lamoiyan Corporation's Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo commenced in 2016 the KKK or Kilusang Kontra Kuto, a coalition that has been battling head lice infestation nationwide. This year's KKK, Lamoiyan Corporation has partnered once again with the Department of Education, University of the Philippines College of Public Health, Drugstores Association of the Philippines, and Mommy Bloggers Philippines.

What are Head Lice? 

- are tiny flat insects about the size of a sesame seed

- live on the human scalp and feed on blood several times a day (several.times.a.day!)

- vary in color but appear darker in the hair

- usually survive for less than 2 days away from the scalp at normal room temperature, ang their eggs cannot hatch at an ambient temperature lower than that near the scalp

- most often found on the warmer areas of the body - sa likod ng tainga, sa likod ng ulo at leeg ( behind the ears and back of head and neck)

SYMPTOMS

- common among kids but anyone can acquire it

- itching common, especially at night

- tickling or feeling of something moving in the hair

- irritability 

- some people have NO SYMPTOMS

EFFECTS 

- scalp irritation

- bacterial infection

- sleeplessness

- absenteeism (for the kids most especially) 

- embarrasment or stigma

TREATMENT ( advised only if lice or live nits are found)

- check all family members

- only family members with live lice or live nits should be treated

- having head lice once DOES NOT protect someone from getting it again

Head lice may be rampant, but it can be treated with the correct information and proper methods like using shampoo specifically for the treatment and prevention of head lice such as Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo. 

Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo, an affordable, non-toxic formula that is clinically-proven to kill lice and nits, hopes to help mothers maintain their children's head lice-free.

Available at Mercury Drug, Watsons, SM, Puregold and other leading drugstores and supermarkets.

Php71.75 for bottles and 12.75 for sachets.

Lamoiyan Corporation is inviting everyone to join their fight against head lice and be part of the Kilusang Kontra Kuto, visit www.facebook.com/licealiz.

Mommy Bloggers Philippines 

Never Miss a Special Moment in your life; Dissolve BREAKTHROUGH CANCER PAIN fast!

Last March 8, 2017 a blogger's event was held to discuss what breakthrough cancer pain is, and introduced a game changer in its management  at Edsa Shangri-la.

Cancer is enough to affect one’s quality of life but breakthrough cancer makes things worse for patients.

There a two types of cancer pain--

background pain and breakthrough cancer pain. According to Professor Uberall, Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a transient exacerbation pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable and unpredictable trigger, despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain. BTcP is characterized by a sudden onset of pain that reaches peak intensity within as little as 3 minutes and lasts for an average of 30 minutes. Patients with cancer have around 4 episodes of Breakthrough Cancer Pain in a day.

Professor Michael Uberall, renowned and widely published physician in the Pain and Palliative Care. He is also the Medical Director of the Institute for Neurological Sciences in Nuernberg Germany and the President of the German Pain League. And Dr. Dolma Santos,member of the Board of Directors of the Pain Society of the Philippines

What is Breakthrough Cancer pain?

It is a common problem among cancer patients and is also known to have a severe detrimental impact on quality of life (QoL), including daily functioning, social relationships and enjoyment of life. Furthermore, a number of studies have reported that a large number of patients with BTcP feel dissatisfied with their pain control. Thus there is a need for effective treatments for relief of BTcP as current treatments do not adequately address BTcP.

IMPACTS OF BREAKTHROUGH PAIN

* Physical complications

 - limitation of physical activity

 - Insomnia

 - Pneumonia

* Psychology and Social Relations

- anxiety, bad temper, depression

- reduction social activity

UNTREATED BREAKTHROUGH PAIN

* For individual patients :

- without treatments, BTcP flares can harm a person's sense of well-being

- interfere with daily activities

- interrupt disease-related treatment schedules

- make it more difficult to treat persistent pain.

* For caregivers, and the health care system

- effective treatment of breakthrough pain is not only good for  medicine, but also cost-effective.

-research has shown that cancer patients with BTcP have medical costs that are five times higher than those without breakthrough pain.

** These findings suggest that the incremental costs associated with proper assessment and management of breakthrough pain may reduce the need for more expensive medical interventions such as hospitalizations and physician visits. 

It is said that Palliative care in the Philippines is not well-developed. Drugs are expensive and trained specialists scarce, and most patients die without adequate pain relief. - -(This is according to the 2015 Quality of Death Index)

To sum up what BTcP is and how it affects one's life :

BTcP ...

... is a rather complex pain condition

... has a significant negative impact on

•  quality-of-life
• activities of daily life 
• mood (anxiety and depression) 
• overall well-being 
• patient autonomy and self-determination 
• treatment costs (direct and indirect) 
•  treatment outcome

... is still not routinely recognized, evaluated and treated

... is difficult to be managed appropriately

... is traditionally treated with SAOs

...initiated the development of ROOs/TIRFs

See, how BTcP affects a patient and the people around them? 

Now, cancer patients who suffer from Breakthrough Cancer Pain do not have to miss those special moments in their lives. If you or any of your loved ones are suffering from Breakthrough Cancer Pain, please seek consult with either your pain/palliative care specialist or medical oncologist. 

Let us help them preserve those moments.