How is Dengue Detected?

Diagnosing Dengue: How Doctors Confirm the Virus & When to Test

Research estimates that nearly 400 million people get infected with dengue each year, but most (about 80%) have no symptoms. Dengue is a disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and can lead to serious health issues if not diagnosed early.

Early detection of dengue is crucial for providing timely treatment and preventing the development of severe conditions, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Read ahead to understand the standard methods used to detect dengue and for more details.

How to Detect Dengue?

Listed below are some standard medical methods that can help determine dengue:

Clinical Diagnosis

Dengue is initially suspected based on the patient's clinical presentation and medical history. The following are common symptoms:

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headaches
• Pain behind the eyes (retro-orbital pain)
• Muscle and joint pain (“breakbone fever”)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Skin rashes
• Extreme fatigue
• Severe abdominal pain
• Mucosal bleeding

Doctors can immediately suspect dengue if a patient presents with these symptoms, particularly after visiting a dengue-endemic area or during an ongoing outbreak. The clinical presentation may mimic that of other diseases, such as malaria, typhoid, or chikungunya; therefore, laboratory diagnosis is necessary.

Early diagnosis increases the likelihood of recovery and helps to prevent community transmission by initiating rapid mosquito control measures.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Several tests are used to establish a dengue infection. The test utilized depends on the duration of the illness. A few of those tests include:

NS1 Antigen Test

• Detects the dengue virus's non-structural protein 1 (NS1) in the blood.
• Most effective during the first 1–5 days of fever.
• Provides quick results and is widely used in clinics and hospitals.
• Often available in both public and private health facilities, including insurance-backed services.

RT-PCR Test

• Detects dengue viral RNA directly.
• It can also identify the specific serotype of the virus, ranging from DENV-1 to DENV-4.
• It is highly accurate but more expensive and is mainly performed in advanced laboratories.
• Useful during the early stage(day 1 to day 5 of illness)

IgM and IgG Antibody Tests

• Detect the body’s immune response to dengue infection.
• IgM antibodies appear by day 4-5 and suggest a recent infection.
• IgG antibodies appear later and indicate past or secondary infection.
• These tests are essential for diagnosis in later stages of the illness, after day 6.

Supportive Blood Tests

Not diagnostic, but other blood tests assist in monitoring the severity of the disease:

• CBC (Complete Blood Count):A low platelet count (<100,000/mm³) and a drop in white blood cells are common in dengue.
• Hematocrit: A higher rate may signal plasma leakage, a warning sign of severe dengue.
• Liver Function Tests (LFTs):This test can show raised liver enzymes.

Supporting investigations that are crucial for disease surveillance and for assessing the appropriateness or necessity of hospitalization, especially for children, senior adults, and individuals who are immunocompromised.

Can Health Insurance Help Manage Dengue Effectively?

Prompt testing is vital, and most insurers offer comprehensive coverage for diagnosing and treating dengue. At Star Health, we offer several standard health insurance plans that cover a wide array of vector-borne diseases, including dengue. We also provide hassle-free claim settlements with reduced turnaround time across 14,000 network hospitals in India.

Diagnosing dengue requires clinical expertise along with laboratory support. Detection through tests such as NS1, RT-PCR, and antibodies is both rapid and accurate. Medical guidance, such as that provided by Star Health, facilitates the process through effective diagnostics and treatment, enabling patients to recover quickly and safely.