‘Fever Corners’ in hospitals to check dengue epidemic

by Carol Aloysius

All leading state hospitals across the country will set up separate Fever Corners or reactivate the units to expedite identifying and treating dengue patients.

According to the Director General, Health Services (DGHS) Dr Palitha Maheepala new fully equipped “Fever Corners” will be set up at the Colombo National Hospital, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Sri Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospital and Homagama Base hospital with the latest equipment to fast track identifying and treating dengue patients.

Consultant Community Physicians from the National Dengue Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Doctors N Pannila Hetti and Nayana de Alwis told the Sunday Observer that experience had shown that the current rainy weather could result in a peak in dengue now assuming epidemic proportions.

Over 11,500 suspected patients islandwide, mostly from the Western Province have been reported up to June this year.

“To check this, Health Ministry officials said “Fever Corners” in hospitals should be reactivated, in addition to the four new units. Suspected Dengue patients will receive priority at these units. They can get a blood test free and have the report within 30 minutes”.

The officials cautioned the public not to fall prey to misleading advertisements by native physicians without proper qualifications claiming miracle cures for Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic fever.

The main symptoms of DHF are usually seen by the third day or thereafter with severe abdominal pains, persistent vomitting, coldness of limbs, unusual bleeding, lethargy and irritability and reduced or no urine output for six hours.