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OUTBREAKS of measles are expected during the summer season, but 2010 saw incidences of outbreaks as early as January.
Symptoms include fever, general weakness and occasional red eyes, which come before the characteristic skin rash. And because it is airborne, measles is highly contagious especially four days before the rashes appear and four days after.
The Department of Health has recorded a total of 954 cases of measles in the country from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20, 2010. Children aged one to nine are the common victims of measles.
Persons infected with measles sometimes suffer from complications due to weak immune systems. These include diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis and corneal ulceration leading to corneal scarring.
These cases are usually categorized as Type A under Philhealth?s unified benefit schedule. Case type classification may vary depending on the complications. Members or dependents confined in Levels 3 or 4 hospitals (like Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center or Chong Hua Hospital) may avail themselves of as much as P500 per day for room and board charges; P4,200 for drugs and medicines; and P3,200 for laboratory procedures.
Coverage for doctor?s daily visits is included, ranging from P300 per day but not exceeding a total of P1,200 coverage per confinement (for general practitioners), to P500 per day but not exceeding P2,000 coverage per confinement (for specialists).
Qualified Philhealth members and their dependents may avail of hospitalization benefits on certain conditions: confinement in a Philhealth-accredited hospital, confinement of not less than 24 hours and availability of room and board allowance. Members must also ensure that their premium payments are updated.
