A Guide to Dengue fever - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Suffering from Dengue fever? Know all about the types and symptoms of Dengue and how to diagnose and prevent Dengue disease.

Like malaria epidemic, dengue fever epidemics depend on temperature.

Higher temperature: Is directly proportional to increased rate of larval development, accelerates the emergence of Adult Aedes Mosquito.

Increased access to a piped water supply- serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes due to increased domestic water storage

While, rainfall is also a predictor of the seasonal timing of dengue epidemics.

Key Facts:

Given the joint efforts of climate change and population growth, the number of people exposed to A. aegypti globally may nearly double by 2100 from roughly 4 billion to 8 billion or more.
1 in 4: About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick.
For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.
Severe dengue can be life-threatening within a few hours and often requires care at a hospital.

Dengue is known to be a viral infection that is caused by the dengue virus (DENV), it is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Dengue is said to begin after a window period or incubation period of 4-7 days when the patients experience the following symptoms:

Other names: Break bone fever

As the back pain is frequently associated severe myalgia (pain in muscle or groups of muscles)

The additional symptoms include the following:

Anorexia
Nausea or Vomiting
Marked cutaneous (skin) hypersensitivity
Belly pain
Liver enlargement

Characteristic rash: A rash is seen that begins on the trunk and then spreads to extremities and the face

Any preexisting gastrointestinal lesions may bleed during acute illness.

Severe disease- Dengue shock syndrome

Dengue shock syndrome is present in case the pulse pressure drops to a level of ≤ 20 mm Hg along with the peripheral vascular collapse.

The Peripheral vascular collapse is determined in children via the following:

Delayed capillary refill
Rapid heart rate
Cold extremities

Diagnosis of Dengue Fever

Diagnosing dengue fever is a bit difficult because the signs and symptoms can be easily confused with that of other diseases — for example: Chikungunya, Zika virus, malaria and typhoid fever.

Medical and Travel History may be asked
Serum Test/Blood Test to check for dengue viruses in Blood

Sign for emergency room

The Symptoms of dengue fever could become even severe within a few hours itself. Severe dengue is considered to be a medical emergency.

Diagnostic Testing

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)

For the patients those are with suspected dengue virus disease, NAATs are considered to be the preferred method of any laboratory diagnosis.

Presence of the virus by the rRT-PCR or NS1 antigen in single diagnostic specimen is considered a laboratory confirmation of the dengue disease in patients which is also compatible with their clinical and travel history.

Later on it is detected by ELISA test

Serologic tests : IgG and IgM

IgM antibody testing can be used to identify any additional infections and is an important diagnostic tool as well. However, the interpretation of the results are complicated by the cross-reactivity with flavi viruses, example- Zika, and also determines the specific timing of the infection, as that can be difficult.

Cross-reactive flaviviruses

The patients that are infected with or even vaccinated against any other flavi viruses (example- yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis) might produce the cross-reactive flavi virus antibodies, which may also yield a false-positive serologic dengue diagnostic test result.

Other tests to carry the following:

Low white blood cell count
Positive tourniquet test
Low Platelet Count
Metabolic Acidosis
Elevated level of AST and ALT
Ultrasound – for ascites present in severe cases and in Dengue Shock Syndrome

Treatment and Management of Dengue Fever

Adequate Rest
Take Paracetamol outside to control the fever and relieve pain.
DO NOT either take aspirin or ibuprofen
Make sure to drink plenty of fluids so as to stay hydrated.
Drink water or drinks that are present with added electrolytes.

For the presence of mild symptoms- you should care for the sick infant, or child, or a family member at home.

Types of Dengue Vaccine

The Two types of dengue vaccine that are available are as follows: Qdenga (approved by EMA on Dec 2022) and Dengvaxia.
These vaccines are for kids, adolescent and adults starting from the age of four.

Prevention of Dengue fever

Note from Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Center

Reduce the Mosquito Habitat
Stay in a well-screened house
Regularly Use the Mosquito Repellents
Wear complete and Protective Clothing
Try to Sleep Under the Mosquito-net
Do not let the Water Stagnate
Keep the House Airy and also Well-Lit

To seek Free Consultation from the Doctor:

Contact- Dr. Ravin Sharma, (MBBS, MD in Radiology)

Available: 24*7*365

Phone Number: +919212125996

Why should Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre be your preference for ruling out other diseases and confirming Dengue fever?

At Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, we are known for providing excellent service and care to its patients for decades. Lakhs of satisfied patients over the years!

It is an established and renowned diagnostic centre since 2001.

Their excellence is backed by NABH and NABL Accreditations.

NABH accreditation is proof of highest standard of care and service provided to the patients. NABL accreditation reflects the competency of laboratories and equipment based on some national and international standards.

Test report is available digitally too.

Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre is a one-stop solution for getting all kinds of tests done, as all services are available under one roof.

The aim of GDIC is to provide world’s finest technology at the lowest price.

The rates of scans are reasonably priced. Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre also offer FLAT 50% OFF on many tests.