6 days ago
Kolkata Doctors Detail Dengue Symptoms, Testing And Warning Signs
Dengue is an illness that can look like an ordinary fever at first.
Doctors say a high fever with headache or pain behind the eyes can be a warning sign.
Shivering, stomach pain, an upset stomach or vomiting may also happen.
People with these symptoms should seek medical advice.
An NS1 test or molecular test can help find dengue during the first five days.
After five days, an IgM test may help confirm it.
Doctors also check blood counts regularly while the illness continues.
A quickly falling platelet count together with a rising haematocrit can be dangerous.
People should not try to treat changing platelet levels without medical supervision.
A 10-year-old boy in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, died on Wednesday after testing positive for dengue.
High fever with headache, pain behind the eyes, shivering, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset or vomiting may indicate dengue.
Dengue NS1 antigen or molecular tests such as RT-PCR can help detect infection during the first five days.
After five days, an IgM test can help confirm dengue infection.
Regular CBC tests, including platelet counts and haematocrit, are important because falling platelets and rising haematocrit may signal plasma leakage and severe dengue.
- Who
- A 10-year-old schoolboy, Kolkata doctors Joydeep Ghosh and Apoorbaa Roy, and people with suspected dengue.
- What
- Doctors outlined dengue symptoms, testing timelines and warning signs requiring monitoring.
- Where
- South Dum Dum and medical facilities in Kolkata.
- When
- The boy died on Wednesday; NS1 and molecular tests are most useful during the first five days, while IgM testing can help after five days.
- Why
- The incident highlighted the importance of recognising dengue early and monitoring patients as the illness evolves.
Key facts
- Reported death
- A 10-year-old boy in South Dum Dum died after testing positive for dengue.
- Early symptoms
- High-grade fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, shivering, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset and vomiting.
- Early testing
- NS1 antigen and molecular tests such as RT-PCR can help detect dengue during the first five days.
- Later testing
- A dengue IgM test can help confirm infection after five days.
- Monitoring
- Regular CBC testing should include platelet count and haematocrit.
- Severe dengue warning
- A rising haematocrit with a rapidly declining platelet count may indicate plasma leakage and a risk of severe dengue.
- Medical advice
- Doctors advise against self-medication or managing rapidly falling platelet counts without medical supervision.
Quotes
Joydeep Ghosh
Consultant in internal medicine at Fortis Hospital Anandapur
“If one suddenly develops a high-grade fever accompanied by a headache, particularly pain behind the eyes, along with shivering, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset, or vomiting, one should be cautious about the possibility of dengue.”
telegraphindia.com
“Regular CBC monitoring, including platelet count and haematocrit, is critical as the illness evolves.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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