In Reply to: Dengue posted by Imagem on Friday, 26. March 2010 at 22:04 Bali Time:
is because they detect the IgG and IgM of the virus.
Platelet checking is to monitor whether or not you have the haemorraghic fever variety or just a normal platelet reaction to the virus.
Dengue fever decreases the body's ability to produce platelets so a drop in platelets is an indicator of the virus but not exclusively, it also isn't true to say that they drop every day for 7 days and then go back to normal, it varies between individual patients. In fact the platelet count often can increase dramatically in the later stages of the virus (provided you don't have the haemorraghic fever variant that is!)
There is also no coorelation between platelet count and the length of the illness.
The major means of diagnosis of Dengue other than blood test is the collective symptoms, you must have more than one of the following; constant headache; fever; raised temperature; pains in muscles (myalgia); pains in bones and joints (polyarthralgia); rash; loss of appetite; metallic taste in mouth; fatigue and exhaustion; vomiting; diarrhoea; adominal discomfort. There can also be bleeding.
Yes I have had Dengue fever recently, last year in fact, and yes I have a medical background.
If you suspect Dengue fever see a Dr immediately. In Australia, make sure they take it seriously!