When is blood test recommended for dengue fever?

Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. A clinician may consider testing when fever occurs with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle or joint pain, nausea, rash, or a relevant travel or local exposure history. Different tests detect the virus or the body’s response at different points, so an early result may not settle the diagnosis. A blood count can also help clinicians watch platelets, white cells, and concentration of the blood. Results must be interpreted alongside symptoms and examination.

Tell the clinician when the fever began, where you have travelled, and which medicines you have taken. Drink fluids if you can and follow local medical advice about fever relief. Avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician specifically advises them, because bleeding risk may matter. Keep follow-up appointments if repeat blood counts are requested, even if the fever starts to settle.

Seek urgent medical care for bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stools, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty, faintness, cold or clammy skin, marked drowsiness, or confusion. Symptoms can worsen around the time a fever falls, so improvement in temperature does not remove the need to act on warning signs.

Which test fits the day my symptoms began? Do I need a repeat blood count? Which fluids and fever medicines are suitable for me? What warning signs should send me to urgent care, and when should my results be reviewed?