Dr. Dexter Dale E. Gacal E-Clinic

24/05/2025

18/04/2025

‼️Uminom at magbaon ng maraming tubig‼️

Ayon sa PAGASA, maaaring umabot sa 43°C ang Heat Index ngayong Biyernes Santo. Ang Heat Index ay ang init na nararamdaman ng katawan.

Ihanda ang mga pangontra sa init at manatiling ligtas ngayong Semana Santa!

18/04/2025

DOH PRESS RELEASE
PR ID NO. 2024-04-18-01

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MPOX DETECTED IN DAVAO STILL CLADE II; SEVERE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED STATE - NOT MPOX - LIKELY CAUSE OF DEATH OF ONE CASE
DOH Advisory | 18 April 2025

The Department of Health (DOH) assures the public that the cases of Mpox reported by the Davao City Health Office (Davao CHO) are of the same Clade II variant of MPX virus. The level of risk remains the same as in previous months; there is no increased danger.

The patient who passed away did not succumb to Mpox itself; said patient was in a severely immunocompromised state and is likely to have died of non-Mpox complications.

As mentioned by Davao CHO, established Mpox response measures are working. Surveillance systems detected the cases which led to their careful isolation from the public. All identified close contacts are being monitored.

We can continue with our meaningful reflection this Good Friday and Easter weekend. Those not observing may likewise rest and recover during this public holiday.

Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks. The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Anyone can get Mpox. Mpox can be transmitted to humans through close, intimate (including sexual) contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or with infected animals. Soap and water can kill the virus. When washing contaminated materials, use gloves.

Mpox is treated with supportive care. Patients with no other illnesses may stay at home after testing, until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms, typically after 2-4 weeks.

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RELEASING AUTHORITY

Dr. Albert Domingo
OIC Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson
Department of Health
Email: communication@doh.gov.ph
Mobile: +639273827512 (c/o Ms Arlene Arbas)

16/04/2025

Imagine your medicine stops working? 💊
Stressful, isn’t it?

This can happen when we misuse antimicrobial medicines. Disease-causing bacteria then become resistant to drugs and the drugs stop working.

16/04/2025

Foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year.

Here are some simple facts about everyday food habits that can help you keep safe from preventable foodborne diseases

16/04/2025

01/02/2025

Sakit sa Puso, Kanser at Stroke ang tatlong nangungunang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng mga Pilipino noong 2023 at 2024. Ang paninigarilyo ay napatunayan nang nagdudulot ng tatlong sakit na ito.

Nakamamatay ang pagyoyosi. 🚭

Itigil na ang paninigarilyo; protektahan ang kalusugan mo, dahil Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!

28/01/2025

Ang World Leprosy Day ay ipinagdiriwang sa huling Linggo ng buwan ng Enero. 🎗️
Magkaisa tayo upang wakasan ang stigma ❌ at diskriminasyon laban sa mga taong may ketong. 🤝

Ang ketong ay nagagamot, ngunit ang patuloy na stigma ay nagdudulot ng hirap sa mga naaapektuhan. 💔 Sa halip, dapat itong tratuhin nang may respeto at pagkalinga sa bawat isa. ❤️

Tandaan: Kung may sintomas ng ketong, huwag mag-atubiling magpakonsulta agad sa doktor 🩺🏥.

Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang pag-unawa, pagkalinga, at pag-asa para sa lahat! 🌟🫂

28/01/2025

Va**ng releases toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, as well as ultrafine particles that go deep into the lungs. These increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.

28/01/2025

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦.𝗡.𝗔.𝗜.𝗟.𝗦. 🐌

𝗦 - Swim in Schistosomiasis-free areas
🚿 Likayi ang paglangoy, pagligo, o paghugas sa mga tubig nga posibleng kontaminado, labi na sa mga lugar nga daghan ang sakit nga ing-ani.

𝗡 - Never defecate in public places
❌ Ayaw paghugaw-hugaw bisan asa

𝗔 - Avoid contaminated Water
🚿 Inom, ligo, ug gamita ang limpyo nga tubig.

𝗜 - Initiate participation in Mass Drug Administration
✅ Pagtambong sa Mass Drug Administration sa inyong lugar

𝗟 - Locate and visit nearest health facility
👩‍⚕️Kung sa tan-aw nimo nga na-expose ka, pagpacheck-up dayon sa doktor para sa saktong pagtambal.

𝗦 - Stay informed
✅ Hibalo-i ang mga sintomas ug paunsa malikayan ang Schistosomiasis

Hinumdomi! Ang kahibalo ug aksyon mao ang susi para malikayan ang schistosomiasis ug magpabilin nga himsog ang kalawasan! 🌟

22/01/2025

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬!

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦.

As a practicing physician, I have consistently observed a troubling trend: patients frequently come in demanding antibiotics with comments like, “𝗗𝗼𝗰, 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰.” Alarmingly, many of them jump straight to this request before even discussing their symptoms. Additionally, some patients express disappointment when I determine that antibiotics are not warranted, even if they are dealing with something as common as the flu or a viral illness.

Antibiotics are designed to combat infections caused by 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔 in both humans and animals. They work by either killing the bacteria or inhibiting their ability to grow and multiply. However, they are 𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗬 and ineffective for conditions that are 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗡, such as viral or fungal infections! Our caution in prescribing antibiotics is rooted in a serious concern: we aim to prevent antimicrobial resistance!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚? It's a phenomenon where bacteria adapt to outsmart the antibiotics designed to defeat them, rendering those drugs ineffective for future use. This could affect not just an individual, but the entire community.

This trend is not limited to my practice; I believe other healthcare professionals are experiencing it as well. It reflects a 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 and the expectations surrounding treatment. Antibiotics aren’t a cure-all or something to be taken lightly; they shouldn’t be treated like candy that anyone can pop whenever they feel unwell.

So, the next time you insist on getting antibiotics, consider the moment when you find yourself confined to a hospital bed for whatever reason at 80 or even 30 years old, realizing that no antibiotic will be effective for you then.

Let’s work together to raise awareness and correct this misconception. 💪🏻☺️