Monsoon Ailments: Understanding Dengue! Dengue mosquito is called Aedis Aegypti. Dengue is a viral illness!
Most viral illnesses start with high fever body ache, shivering and vomiting.
Initial 2-3 days difficult to differentiate and diagnose, post 4-5 days is much easier.
How does this fever present?
Presents as; very high fever, headache, shivering, retro orbital pain.
Whole body all the bones are very painful, joint pain, sometimes rashes come that disappear within a day or two.
Eyes are red, child is very toxic, very sick, or really ill looking. After five days when the fever subsides the other problems start. Tiredness, lethargy, not taking food, vomiting, stomach pain reduced uring output etc.
Other fevers; once fever down-child is active. In dengue; child remains lethargic. Persisting severe vomiting and severe stomach ache, even after fever is down; not a good sign!
How do we diagnose dengue?
Initial 1-2 days tests not recommended as it has no significant advantage and does not alter treatment options.
After 4 days: fever persists; then "CBC: Complete blood count “done which shows Total WBC (white blood cells)
and platelets decreasing
PCV: "(packed cell volume)"measures thickness of blood. PCV important concern more than platelet count.
However panic with platelet more common. Normal range of platelet is 1.5 lakh to 4 lakh. Platelet could comedown to1 lakh, 50000/30000/20000 and even 10000.
PCV more important as it tells about the condition of blood vessels; if damaged the fluid leaks and this is responsible for symptoms.
The other test done are :
NS1 antigen test; for dengue antibodies; this test can give results from Day 1-8 of fever
IgM antibodies test; positive after 4/5 days
Post 4 days both test positive, if dengue fever!
