Marcela Gómez was worried because last Tuesday she felt in poor health. “My temperature rose to more than 38 degrees, with headaches.” She also felt muscle pain, so she feared she was infected with dengue. “I live in some departments that are for Federalism, near the Mezquitán Pantheon, so I suspected that I had dengue because there was a strong outbreak in the area weeks ago. But I went to the doctor and it wasn’t that: I had the flu. The next day I started having the flu and cough.”
Jalisco remains among the first places in the country for dengue cases, but the number of patients is decreasing. Now the alert issued by the Ministry of Health is due to the increase in respiratory diseases, given the low temperatures that are impacting the State —The National Meteorological Service reveals that cold front number 11 causes a drop in temperatures in 24 states of the country, such as Jalisco—.
To avoid serious cases, the deputy director of the Health Programs of the Government of Jalisco, Ángel Núño, emphasizes that patients should go to receive medical attention during the first two days in which symptoms begin. “It is the call to the population to go to the doctor immediately.” The patients most at risk are those who suffer from diabetes or hypertension. And he asks people not to self-medicate, since poor treatment management puts their health at risk.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, in Jalisco There are 407 cases of influenza recorded in 2024, which are more than double those documented at this time last year (138), but there are increases of 15% in diseases such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis and pneumonia.
The authorities make a recommendation to citizens to stay warm and well hydrated, protecting their nose and mouth with masks or scarves during the coldest episodes and against pre-contingencies and atmospheric contingencies, such as those registered this week in the metropolis (in the areas Center and South, mainly).
Given the confusion in the first symptoms of dengue and influenza, Joaquín Jiménez, director of the Real San José Hospital and pediatrician, explains: “Both diseases have similar symptoms at the beginning; for example, fever or body aches. But influenza is a severe flu with mucus, watery eyes, runny crystalline mucus and fever. Dengue fever is called lammergeier fever because it is too strong and, in addition, you have a headache, eye pain, and pain throughout your body.”
In the case of influenza, he recommended applying the quadrivalent vaccine to protect against strains of the disease, which is available from the Ministry of Health in Jalisco. It even has an active vaccination campaign in health centers (it has already applied 730 thousand doses and the goal is one and a half million this year). The IMSS also maintains the vaccination campaign in its clinics.
The symptoms
Influenza
- High fever
- Muscle pain and fatigue
- Shivers
- Headache
- Nasal congestion and cough
- Sore throat
Sick: In Jalisco, this year there are 407 cases of influenza, 11,192 patients with pharyngitis and tonsillitis, as well as 13,218 cases of pneumonia.
Use: When there are cases of Covid-19, other conditions are added, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of the sense of taste or smell, nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea.
Dengue
- High fever
- Muscle pain and fatigue
- Shivers
- Headache
- Nasal congestion and cough
- Sore throat
Sick: This year there are 18 thousand infections and 27 deaths.
General recommendations: Do not self-medicate and go to the doctor within the first two days of symptoms.
CT
