El Niño Not Only Makes Things Uncomfortable, Dengue Risk for Children Also Rises

The Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) warns that the dry season and heat accompanying El Niño drive many households to store water at home. However, IDAI cautions that such habits can raise the risk of dengue fever (DBD) if water storage containers are not properly managed. Dr. Darmawan Budi Setyanto, Sp.A, Subsp.Respi(K), head of IDAI’s Environmental Health and Climate Change Task Force, said weather pattern changes during El Niño affect environmental conditions related to children’s health. ‘During prolonged dry seasons, people tend to store water in various containers. If not covered or cleaned regularly, these can become breeding sites for mosquitoes,’ he said during IDAI’s webinar on ‘The Impact of El Niño on Children’s Health’, which Kompas.com attended online on Tuesday (19/5/2026). He noted that clean water stagnation left standing for too long can become an ideal site for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to lay eggs. Household water storage containers such as buckets, bathtubs, water tanks, and rainwater catchment devices can also become breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes if not cleaned regularly. ‘Sometimes people feel safe because of the dry season, but in fact many water containers are left open,’ he said. According to Darmawan, these conditions keep the risk of dengue transmission something to be vigilant about even as rainfall declines. He reminded parents not to regard fever in children during hot weather as a normal condition. ‘If a child has a fever, lethargy, or shows other signs pointing to DBD, do not delay seeking medical examination,’ said Dr. Piprim. He added that climate change and extreme temperatures require parents to be more attuned to their children’s daily health.