Health authorities are urging parents to seek immediate medical treatment for children if a fever persists for more than 24 hours, as the country’s dengue outbreak strains paediatric care.
Dr. Pradeep Rathnasiri, a specialist and Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, said around 50 children with dengue are currently receiving treatment at the hospital, with roughly a quarter of them in critical condition, NewsFirst reported.
He warned that if the situation continues to worsen, the hospital could face difficulties related to bed capacity — a sign of the mounting pressure the outbreak is placing on Sri Lanka’s health system.
The appeal underscores a repeated message from clinicians during the current surge: early medical attention is critical, particularly for young children, who can deteriorate rapidly once warning signs appear. Doctors advise that a child with a fever lasting more than a day should be assessed by a medical professional rather than treated at home.
The warning comes as the National Dengue Control Unit reports 61 dengue-related deaths islandwide so far this year, with total cases for 2026 exceeding 80,000. Children under 19 account for a significant share of infections, though the highest death rates have been recorded among older patients.
Authorities continue to urge households, schools and workplaces to destroy mosquito-breeding sites, warning that stagnant water in discarded containers and blocked drains is fuelling the spread of the Aedes mosquito.
