Paracetamol is recommended against fever

The Director of the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital Dr. Rathnasiri Hewage appeals to the parents not to give anything else other than paracetamol to children who suffer from fever.

He said 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. He said that Pain killers should be given only on the recommendations of a qualified and experienced doctor.

Dr. Hewage said that Dengue Hemorrhage Fever, which is a serious life threatening condition, could develop in children and adults with dengue when they take other drugs such as broofen, diclofenace sodium, aspirin etc.  He said that some children who had been admitted to Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital had died due to the use of other drugs.

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.