Nothing but paracetamol for children with fever

Nadira Gunatilleke

Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital (LRH) Director Dr. Rathnasiri Hewage requests parents not to give anything else other than paracetamol to children who suffer from fever.

Other drugs, except paracetamol can cause complications in children who suffer from dengue. According to Dr. Hewage, children who suffer from dengue can be subjected to internal bleeding and other complications and die due to the use of other drugs.

Only paracetamol should be given to them. Pain killers should be given only on the recommendations of a qualified and experienced doctor.

Dengue Hemorrhage Fever, which is a serious life threatening condition can develop in children and adults with dengue when they take other drugs such as broofen, diclofanac sodium, aspirin etc.

"Some children who had been admitted to LHR had died due to the use of those drugs," he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry requests the public to seek immediate medical treatment from a qualified and experienced doctor or a state hospital for fever persisting for more than two days (both in adults and children) to avoid Dengue Shock Syndrome and Dengue Hemorrhage Fever which can occur due to use of other drugs except paracetamol without knowing whether the fever is viral or dengue.