The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday urged the public to immediately seek medical consultation after wading through floodwaters to prevent leptospirosis.
“Immediately consult a health center or the leptospirosis fast lanes of DOH hospitals if you waded through floodwaters. Through consultation, the appropriate medicine against leptospirosis will be determined,” the agency said.
The DOH issued the advisory after heavy rains left several areas submerged, exposing residents to contaminated water.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, muscle pain, headaches, and in severe cases, kidney damage or death.
Health officials warned against self-medication, stressing that antibiotics should only be taken under the supervision of doctors who determine the safe and appropriate use of doxycycline, the antibiotic prescribed to prevent or treat the disease.
The health agency emphasized that the best protection is to avoid wading in floodwaters whenever possible.
If unavoidable, people are advised to wear boots to keep their feet dry and safe from viral infection.
To address the surge of cases during the rainy season, the DOH designated fast lanes for leptospirosis patients in public hospitals, listed as San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital,
East Avenue Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center;
Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
