| Subject: doctor @ Lady Ridgeway Hospital
About Dengue- its important to get these messages across.
Dengue is at its worst peak this season. Its important to protect kids against mosquito bites especially during daytime. Keeping the environment clean is as equally important. If a child gets fever, a blood count MUST be done by the 2nd day & shown to a Doctor. If dengue is suspected in the blood count, its important not to waste time, and bring the child quickly to LRH where the child can be monitored continuously. We see children treated in private medical institutions being transferred late to LRH, in a serious condition. By that time the critical phase has passed & its difficult to save the life. If you are suspecting a serious illness like dengue, bring the child to LRH. Like all other Government institutions, facilities and resources are limited. LRH doesn't have the comforts, but it is able to provide what matters most, patient care. You wont get a comfortable bed (sometimes 2-3 children have to share the same bed), or other luxuries (no bed for mother, attached bathrooms, A/C, satellite TV etc which are available elsewhere), and the Doctors and nurses may not have much time to talk, smile and be friendly because they have so much of work to attend to, but the level of care given is optimal, and any change in the condition from bad to worse will be detected early. Its the child's life which matters! It is very rarely that I have seen a child brought to LRH in the early stage of the illness succumb and pass away.
I am just telling you what I see in reality in day-to-day life, with no intention of promoting the place I work, as I do not have any gain from it. If you can pass this msg across to your friends, especially those with kids, it could help save a life. You have to be in 'the situation' to know what a death of a close one feels like . .
Dr.Savin Mendis
Senior House Officer - Paediatric Surgery
Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children,
Colombo 08, SRI LANKA
savindra007@yahoo.com
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