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Feeling Sick, Took Flu Medicines. Had Chills, Fever And Body Aches. What Can This Be?
Question: Hello. I live in the Dominican Republic. How do I know if I have dengue or just a flu virus? I first got sick a week ago. I took flu meds and thought I was almost over it. But two days ago I got the chills, a high fever and body aches. Now my fever is lower but my back still hurts. Fever 98.8. Here they say that a virus can turn into dengue. I don't believe that. Yesterday I had a brief breakout, like hives, on my hand. Almost like an allergic reaction. But today's it's gone. I thought it might be because of the fever. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
Dengue IgM, IgG and platelet count
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.
Thank you for writing in.
Dengue is accurately diagnosed with the help of its clinical presentation along with laboratory blood investigations. The blood tests are required as the clinical presentation is similar to most viral infections.
Blood tests include testing for dengue antibodies called IgM and IgG. Both of them are easily detectable after 5 days of the infection. IgM is specifically helpful in detecting an active infection, also a re-infection (which could also be possible in your case), and is detectable in the blood for almost 30 days after the initiation of an infection. I would recommend testing for IgG and IgM dengue antibodies along with your platelet levels (which can drop in dengue resulting in a rash, which is positive in your history).
I hope this information helps you ma'am. Wishing you lots of luck and hoping you recover at the earliest.
Best wishes.
Dengue IgM, IgG and platelet count
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.
Thank you for writing in.
Dengue is accurately diagnosed with the help of its clinical presentation along with laboratory blood investigations. The blood tests are required as the clinical presentation is similar to most viral infections.
Blood tests include testing for dengue antibodies called IgM and IgG. Both of them are easily detectable after 5 days of the infection. IgM is specifically helpful in detecting an active infection, also a re-infection (which could also be possible in your case), and is detectable in the blood for almost 30 days after the initiation of an infection. I would recommend testing for IgG and IgM dengue antibodies along with your platelet levels (which can drop in dengue resulting in a rash, which is positive in your history).
I hope this information helps you ma'am. Wishing you lots of luck and hoping you recover at the earliest.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
But you didn't explain the difference in the symptoms. Could you please?
Brief Answer:
My apologies, differences explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
I shall surely help you with that information.
Dengue fever has the following symptoms, in order of their occurrence:
-Continuous fever and headache to start off with
-Then progresses with the appearance of nausea, sore throat, vomiting, sore throat, cough, and abdominal pain
-Cold extremities, weak pulse, Blue extremities or blueness around the mouth
-Rash
Whereas, a flu-like virus would have the following symptoms:
-High temperature
-Exhaustion
-Runny and congested nose
-Chills
-Headache
-Cough
-Muscle and/or joint pain
-Gastric symptoms like diarrhea
-Sneezing
-Loss of appetite
-Difficulty sleeping due to flu-like symptoms being aggravated with the supine position
There is considerable overlap among the symptoms between the two condition and in practical set up (doctor's clinic) it is extremely difficult to differentiate the two based on symptoms alone.
I hope this information helps you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a beautiful life thereafter.
My apologies, differences explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
I shall surely help you with that information.
Dengue fever has the following symptoms, in order of their occurrence:
-Continuous fever and headache to start off with
-Then progresses with the appearance of nausea, sore throat, vomiting, sore throat, cough, and abdominal pain
-Cold extremities, weak pulse, Blue extremities or blueness around the mouth
-Rash
Whereas, a flu-like virus would have the following symptoms:
-High temperature
-Exhaustion
-Runny and congested nose
-Chills
-Headache
-Cough
-Muscle and/or joint pain
-Gastric symptoms like diarrhea
-Sneezing
-Loss of appetite
-Difficulty sleeping due to flu-like symptoms being aggravated with the supine position
There is considerable overlap among the symptoms between the two condition and in practical set up (doctor's clinic) it is extremely difficult to differentiate the two based on symptoms alone.
I hope this information helps you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a beautiful life thereafter.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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