Quick answer
Keeping kids healthy in Sri Lanka rests on four habits: avoiding the midday sun and drinking often, preventing mosquito bites by day and evening because dengue is present, eating freshly cooked food with bottled or filtered water, and staying away from dogs and monkeys. Sri Lanka has been certified malaria-free since 2016. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure for advice on vaccinations for each child, carry a small medical kit, and buy insurance covering private hospitals.
Key takeaways
- The World Health Organization certified Sri Lanka free of malaria in 2016.
- Dengue fever is present across Sri Lanka, with higher case numbers after monsoon rains, and is spread by day-biting mosquitoes.
- Rabies is present in Sri Lanka, mainly in dogs, so any bite or scratch from a mammal needs prompt medical attention.
- Private hospitals with paediatric services are found in Colombo, Kandy and Galle, with smaller facilities in most towns.
- Lowland temperatures of 30 to 33 degrees with high humidity make dehydration the most common health problem in visiting children.
Before you go
Keeping kids healthy in Sri Lanka begins at home, with a travel clinic or doctor six to eight weeks before departure. The advice given depends on each child's age, health and vaccination record, and on the route. Routine childhood immunisations should be up to date.
Insurance is the other task. Choose a policy covering every family member, treatment in private hospitals, medical evacuation and any planned activities. Carry the emergency number on paper. Bring regular medicines in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Heat, sun and hydration
Heat causes more trouble for visiting children than any infection. The lowlands are 30 to 33 degrees with high humidity, and children at play do not notice thirst. Offer water every half hour outdoors, and watch for headache, tiredness, flushed skin or irritability.
The daily timetable is the best protection. Be active before 10am and after 4pm, and spend the middle of the day in water or shade. Use high-factor sunscreen, reapplied after swimming, UV swim tops and hats. Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sun.
- →Water every 30 minutes when active.
- →Shade or pool from 11am to 3pm.
- →Sunscreen, UV tops and wide-brimmed hats.
- →Oral rehydration salts after heavy sweating.
Mosquitoes and dengue
Mosquitoes matter in Sri Lanka because of dengue, a viral fever with no specific treatment. The mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day, especially early morning and late afternoon, and breed in standing water around towns. Risk rises after rains.
Bite prevention is the whole defence. Use a repellent suitable for your child's age, applied to exposed skin, and reapply after swimming. Dress children in light long sleeves at dusk, sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms, and use a net over cots. A fever lasting more than two days needs a doctor.
- →Repellent by day as well as evening.
- →Long, light clothing at dawn and dusk.
- →Nets, screens or air conditioning at night.
Stomach upsets
Stomach upsets are common and usually mild. Prevention is the familiar routine: bottled or filtered water, freshly cooked hot food, fruit you peel, and clean hands. Hand sanitiser in the day bag is used a dozen times a day.
If a child does get diarrhoea, the priority is fluid. Give oral rehydration solution in small, frequent sips and continue feeding as appetite allows. Seek medical help for a baby, for blood in the stool, high fever, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration such as few wet nappies.
Animals, cuts and the sea
Animals are a temptation for children and a real risk. Street dogs are everywhere and mostly placid, and monkeys haunt every temple. Neither should be touched or fed. A bite or scratch means washing the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and going to a hospital the same day.
Small wounds need more care than at home. Cuts and insect bites become infected quickly in humid heat, so clean them, apply antiseptic and cover them. In the sea, jellyfish stings and coral grazes occur; rinse with seawater or vinegar and watch for swelling.
- →Never stroke dogs, cats or monkeys.
- →Clean and cover every cut.
- →Wear sandals or reef shoes on rocks and coral.
The kit and where to find care
A medical kit for a family should be small and specific: children's paracetamol and ibuprofen, oral rehydration salts, antihistamine, antiseptic, plasters, a thermometer, tweezers, sunscreen, repellent and any travel sickness remedy your doctor suggests.
Medical care is good in the cities. Private hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle have paediatricians and English-speaking staff, and consultations are inexpensive. Rural areas have government hospitals and clinics. Lankan Stays & Trails gives every family the nearest recommended hospital for each stop and a 24-hour number.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sri Lanka safe for children's health?
Sri Lanka is generally safe for children's health with sensible precautions. There is no malaria, medical care is good in cities, and the main risks of heat, mosquito-borne dengue and stomach upsets can be greatly reduced by simple daily habits.
Do children need vaccinations for Sri Lanka?
Children's vaccination needs for Sri Lanka depend on age, health and existing immunisations. Routine vaccines should be current, and a travel clinic may advise others. Book an appointment six to eight weeks before departure for advice specific to each child.
Is there malaria in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka was certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization in 2016, and antimalarial tablets are not generally recommended. Mosquito bite prevention remains important because dengue fever, which has no preventive tablet, is present throughout the island.
What should I do if my child gets diarrhoea in Sri Lanka?
If your child gets diarrhoea in Sri Lanka, give oral rehydration solution in small frequent sips, keep offering food and rest in the cool. See a doctor promptly for babies, high fever, blood, repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration.
What happens if my child is bitten by a dog or monkey in Sri Lanka?
If a child is bitten or scratched by a dog or monkey in Sri Lanka, wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and go to a hospital the same day. Rabies is present, and post-exposure treatment is available.
Are hospitals in Sri Lanka good for tourists with children?
Private hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle provide a good standard of care for tourists with children, with paediatric specialists and English-speaking doctors at modest cost. In remote areas facilities are basic, which is one reason insurance with evacuation cover matters.