TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) reported that acute upper respiratory infection was the leading cause of morbidity in 2024, with a total of 9,288 cases, followed by hypertension with 6,719.
Nurse Jandel Taguiam from the CHSO has announced other leading causes of morbidity this year based on their records, including animal bites with 1,387 cases and urinary tract infections with 1,234 cases.
Also included in the top ten causes were diabetes mellitus with 917 cases; wounds of all forms (697); hypertension with diabetes (436); arthritis (431); fever of unknown origin (346); and anemia (334).
Taguiam also reported that acute respiratory failure was the leading cause of death this year with 26 cases, followed by cerebrovascular accidents and strokes with 25 cases.
Included in the top 10 leading causes are chronic kidney or renal disease with 22 cases, hypostatic pneumonia (20), senility/old age and strangulation, both with 12 cases, peptic ulcer disease (9), and 3 cases each of diabetes and severe pneumonia. There were three cases that had undetermined causes.
The CHSO also noted 1,677 cases of animal bites from January to August this year according to the Animal Bite Treatment Center report. Among this number, dog bites recorded the highest with 1,428 cases, followed by cat bites with 240 cases and nine from other animals.
From January to August 10, there was an increase in suicide cases, in which 18 cases of completed suicide were recorded and 14 attempted suicide, compared to 6 cases in 2023. 22 of those who committed suicide were males, and 10 were females. By Ian Jefrey Addatu
