The weeks during and after the monsoon bring a rise in fevers around Mumbai and Thane. Most are viral and pass in a few days, but dengue, malaria and typhoid need to be found early, and each one shows up on a different test at a different point in the illness. Your doctor decides which tests you need; this is what each one looks for.
Dengue
- Days 1 to 5 of fever: the NS1 antigen test. It finds the virus itself, so it works best early.
- From about day 5: dengue antibody (IgM) tests, which show your body's response to the infection.
- A complete blood count (CBC) is repeated to watch your platelet count, which can fall over several days.
Malaria
A malaria antigen test is a quick way to check for malaria from a blood sample. If it is negative but the fever continues, your doctor may repeat it. Fever with chills that comes and goes is a common sign, but malaria does not always follow that pattern.
Typhoid
Typhoid usually builds slowly, with a fever that climbs over several days, stomach pain and loss of appetite. Typhoid tests are more reliable after the first few days of fever, so your doctor will choose the right test and the right day.
Signs that need a doctor today
- Severe stomach pain, or vomiting that will not stop
- Bleeding from the gums or nose, or blood in vomit or stool
- Drowsiness, restlessness or confusion
- Fast or difficult breathing, or very little urine
Be careful with painkillers. Until dengue has been ruled out, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and similar painkillers unless a doctor advises them, as they can make bleeding more likely. Paracetamol is the usual choice for fever, at the dose your doctor recommends.
Protecting yourself
- Empty standing water around your home every week: dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water in pots, coolers and tyres.
- Use mosquito repellent and nets, and cover your arms and legs at dawn and dusk.
- If you have waded through floodwater and then get a fever, tell your doctor: leptospirosis is common after the rains.
