Is it dengue or something else in Hyderabad?

Hyderabad: A perplexing medical situation is emerging in Hyderabad, where numerous patients exhibiting classic dengue symptoms—such as high fever, low platelet counts, and body aches—are consistently testing negative for the disease. This anomaly has left healthcare providers and medical professionals in the city deeply puzzled and urgently seeking answers.

The Telangana State Public Health department has begun recording these cases as "suspected dengue" due to the negative test results. However, no significant efforts are being made to investigate whether another viral agent might be responsible for the surge in dengue-like illnesses.

So far, neither the Public Health department nor the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has initiated any comprehensive research to solve this mystery. No blood samples from patients testing positive for dengue have been sent to central government genetic laboratories in the city for detailed genomic sequencing, which could help identify the actual viral agent responsible for these infections.

The frequent negative test results are also leading many individuals to mistakenly believe they are not suffering from any viral infection. Consequently, a significant number of patients are not adhering to the prescribed treatment, which could potentially lead to complications later on.

There are two main types of dengue diagnostic tests: the NS1 antigen test and the IgM antibody test. Experts warn that these tests can sometimes yield negative results, particularly if the timing of the test is not right. Typically, the NS1 antigen can be detected from the third day of infection, while IgM antibodies are detectable after five to six days.

Senior physicians familiar with the dengue patterns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh urge individuals not to ignore basic medical advice and rest, even if their tests come back negative.

“Some patients use rapid tests for dengue, which could contribute to the high number of negative results. However, it's crucial not to dismiss symptoms that resemble dengue,” the doctors advised.

Key Recommendations for Dengue Patients:

Avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac.

Use paracetamol to reduce fever.

Steroids are ineffective in treating dengue.

Stay well-hydrated.

Papaya leaf juice offers no proven relief.

Consider platelet or blood transfusion only if platelet levels drop below 15,000 to 20,000.

Dengue tests include NS1 and IgM tests: NS1 on day 2 of symptoms and IgM on day 5.

Avoid using antibiotics and anti-malarials for dengue treatment.