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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 21, 2014 3:40 PM IST
Rise of dengue in the city has been a cause for concern for doctors. The number of dengue cases being reported every year has been constantly on the rise. South East Asian regions are one of the most affected regions in the world.
Vector borne diseases like dengue have similar symptoms to that of the common flu and hence it is important to undergo testing and confirm infection at the earliest possible. Early diagnosis will help a patient recover completely.
Symptoms: Dengue is marked by very high fever, severe body aches, joint pain, pain behind the eyes, severe headache. Rashes develop within 2 days of onset of fever. (Read: World Health Day 2014: Dengue fever treatment and prevention)
Diagnosis Dilemma
Over the years, Antibody and serology tests have been widely used to detect Dengue. The sensitivity of the IgG and IgM antibody tests is low and many a times result in false negative cases.
Dengue is a serious illness and may rapidly develop in a patient and may also lead to Dengue Haemorrhagic fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome depending on the viral load. In these cases, the platelet count drops rapidly, blood pressure drops eventually leading to internal bleeding and organ failure, particularly the liver and kidney.
To add to the woes, ready-to-use cheap dengue rapid diagnostic test kits that are causing confusion in detection of dengue cases. Last month the Indian Medical Association (Aurangabad Chapter) stressed on formulating precise guidelines of relying on only the tests results of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) kit for detection and confirmation of dengue.
Dengue can only be efficiently tackled if diagnosis is confirmatory and hence no time is lost in treatment and disease management. (Read: Prevent dengue with these 10 practical tips)
Diagnostic Solutions
NS1 Antigen Test: The Ns1 Antigen test is considered conclusive and also allows for rapid detection on the onset of fever. It is a technique based on ELISA and has been widely used.
Molecular testing by PCR is the latest and best available for vector borne diseases. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test detects the presence of the virus and is the most reliable means of diagnosis. A positive result from a PCR is conclusive. PCR is done in real-time which extract nucleic acid of pathogens from whole blood. With a sensitivity and specificity of a 100%.
Here are some basic and simple tips to prevent dengue
1. Do not allow water to stagnate around your house
2. Wear long sleeved clothes
2. Use insecticide sprays in your surroundings
4. Screen Widows and Doors
5. Use Mosquito netting over beds
6. Apply Mosquito repellent creams on your skin
Image source: Getty Images
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