Spread of dengue

The thing that most parents are concerned about is the health of their children. I’m a nine-year old home-schooled kid and I’m especially concerned with the population of mosquitoes and what they can do to Filipino children’s health. I learned from my science teacher that Aedes mosquitoes spread the virus that causes dengue fever, which is a life-threatening disease for humans and some other organisms.

The symptoms of this disease are fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in the muscles and joints, and rashes. If this is severe enough, this may cause puking, abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and decrease in blood platelets that can lead to internal bleeding.

As we are in the rainy season in this tropical country, we should be aware about stagnant water, which could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

There are actually some ways to prevent the mosquitoes from reproducing and multiplying even though it rains. Here are some practical things you can do to control the population of mosquitoes: (1) avoid putting plates under plants in pots because when you water the plant, the water might spill onto the plate filling it with stagnant water; (2) cover the vase with glass; and (3) clean puddles near residence area.

I hope the readers will be reminded of the importance of a clean environment. It’s very critical for children, like me, to stay healthy for us to fulfill our dreams. Well, that includes adults.

These are just suggestions, but I hope these inspire us to think about making a better life.