{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Dengue, Malaria or Viral Fever? How to Identify Monsoon Symptoms and When to Get Tested, According to Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Neha Rastogi",
  "summary": "Monsoon illnesses like dengue, malaria, and viral fevers often share overlapping early symptoms. Dr. Neha Rastogi from Fortis Memorial Research Institute explains key red flags and the right time to undergo blood tests.",
  "content": "The arrival of the monsoon brings a sharp rise in seasonal illnesses across the country. Weather fluctuations combined with stagnant rainwater create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, leading to a surge in cases of dengue and malaria alongside common viral infections. In the early stages, all three conditions present remarkably similar symptoms, making self-diagnosis confusing and potentially risky. Taking improper medications without knowing the exact cause can lead to severe health complications. Dr. Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, explains how to spot the specific warning signs of each illness and when to undergo medical testing.\n\nKey Symptoms and Danger Signs of Dengue Fever\nDengue cases typically spike during and immediately after the rainy season. When infected by the dengue virus, individuals often experience a sudden onset of high fever accompanied by intense pain behind the eyes, severe headaches, joint and muscle aches, and extreme physical exhaustion.\n\nIn addition, some patients may suffer from nausea, vomiting, or skin rashes. Infectious disease experts warn that certain symptoms indicate a critical emergency. Severe and continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, unusual lethargy, and difficulty breathing are warning signs of severe dengue. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate hospital care without delay.\n\nIdentifying Characteristics of Malaria Infection\nMalaria is another major mosquito-borne disease that exhibits distinct fever patterns compared to viral infections. Typically, a malaria episode begins with severe chills and intense shivering, followed by a rapid rise in body temperature and heavy sweating as the fever breaks.\n\nAlong with this characteristic temperature fluctuation, patients frequently report headaches, body aches, weakness, and occasional vomiting. However, experts emphasize that this classic fever cycle does not appear in every single patient. Malaria can sometimes present without prominent shivering, meaning the absence of chills should never be used to rule out infection.\n\nRecognizing Common Viral Infections\nSeasonal viral fevers usually affect the upper respiratory tract. People suffering from a viral infection generally experience fever alongside a sore throat, persistent cough, runny or congested nose, general body aches, and fatigue.\n\nBecause the initial presentation of viral fever overlaps heavily with dengue and malaria, relying on symptom checking at home or self-prescribing medications is strongly discouraged by medical professionals.\n\nWhen to Consult a Doctor and Necessary Diagnostic Tests\nMedical evaluation becomes essential if high fever persists over multiple days, or if a person experiences profound weakness, agonizing headaches, severe shivering, or lives in an area with active dengue or malaria outbreaks.\n\nBased on the patient's clinical condition and the duration of fever, doctors will order appropriate diagnostic blood tests. Common evaluations include a Complete Blood Count (CBC), dengue antigen or antibody tests, and malaria antigen tests or blood smear examinations. The optimal timing for these tests depends on the specific illness and test type, so diagnostic testing should always follow expert medical guidance.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Getting a CBC, dengue, or malaria test under medical guidance instead of self-medicating during monsoon fever can prevent severe complications.\n• In Gurugram and NCR: Residents in waterlogged areas should visit Fortis or a nearby health facility immediately upon noticing severe symptoms like intense headache, shivering, or abdominal pain.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What are the early symptoms of dengue during the monsoon?\nEarly dengue symptoms include a sudden high fever, sharp pain behind the eyes, headache, severe joint and muscle pain, and extreme weakness. Some patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, or skin rashes.\n\n2. How does malaria fever differ from dengue and viral infections?\nMalaria typically presents with severe chills and shivering before the fever spikes, followed by heavy sweating. However, not all patients present with this classic cycle.\n\n3. Which dengue symptoms require immediate hospitalization?\nSevere continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, unusual lethargy, and difficulty breathing are critical warning signs requiring immediate emergency medical care.\n\n4. What blood tests do doctors recommend for monsoon fever?\nDepending on the fever duration and symptoms, doctors may recommend a Complete Blood Count (CBC), dengue antigen/antibody tests, or malaria antigen/smear tests.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/health/manasuna-men-teja-bukhara-ke-bada-dengu-maleriya-ya-vayarala-ki-pahachana-kaise-karen-fortis-ki-snkramaka-roga-visheshajna-dr-neha-19579",
  "category": "Health",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-21",
  "tags": [
    "Dengue Symptoms",
    "Malaria Symptoms",
    "Viral Fever",
    "Monsoon Diseases",
    "Dr Neha Rastogi",
    "Fortis Hospital",
    "Blood Test",
    "Health Advice"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}