Can we identify dengue fever without lab tests?

Hi,

My son is a 5 year old boy. He had high fever two days back and the temperature touched 104.9 degrees Fahrenheit. We have been giving Meftal and Paracetamol for the last two days with water bath to bring the fever down.

We have also been giving Zifi 100 twice a day as prescribed by our physician. This has helped to keep the fever down over the last 18 hours. But four hours back, our pediatrician said that this is dengue. But there is nothing to be alarmed about and asked us to continue the same treatment. But this made us jittery. Our question is,

1. How do we know that the treatment is going in a right path as we are not tracking anything apart from temperature?

2. I have read that the platelet count should get checked during dengue. Should we need to do any blood test for that?

3. I am much worried about pricking a small child for blood test and what else should we do for tracking?

Hi,

Thank you doctor. I have few more doubts to shoot,

1. We have been advised not to give Meftal P. Our concern is that sometimes Crocin does not bring the fever down, at that time what medicine should be given as an alternative for Meftal P?

2. My son is also complaining of heel pain when he presses his foot on the floor. Is this a symptom of dengue?

3. As he is not experiencing any eye pain is it fine to watch television?

We are planning to get the platelet count test done. But, fever has gone down today. Do you like to suggest any other test to be done along with that?

Thanks.