Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has urged parents to take children who display symptoms of dengue fever to a doctor, instead of giving them wrong medication at home.

Pointing out that medical practitioners use a particular procedure, when symptoms are suspected to be dengue related, Dr. Tufton said the same advice also applies to adults who display symptoms.

The minister raised concern that some medications can aggravate the situation and make it worse.

He noted that many of the cases seen at the Bustamante hospital recently, involved children whose condition had deteriorated because they had been getting medication at home that was not suitable for dengue fever.

Dr. Tufton was speaking during a tour of Gregory Park in Portmore, St. Catherine yesterday (Dec 28), that was aimed at encouraging residents to destroy mosquito breeding sites and to always seek medical attention if they suspect they have dengue.

The minister said Portmore, St. Catherine accounted for a high percentage of the suspected dengue fever cases in the country.