I have fever, red rashes, and low platelet count. Is it dengue fever?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 25-year-old female who weighs 24 kg and is 5.3 feet tall. I have had a fever for the past week. The fever was between 38 and 40°C. I also had headaches and lower back pain. Today I got tested for dengue, but the test was negative. However, on my torso, neck, and face, there are these red rashes.

The rashes are not itchy and flat, and they appear to be under the skin. Also, my platelet count was 79,000. I am currently taking Ibuprofen. I was wondering if it is possible that I tested too early for dengue and that it's still dengue. If it is not dengue, however, what could it be?

Please advise. What to do?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It could be dengue or any other viral infection. The presentation of all viral fevers is generally similar. Any viral infection can cause a low platelet count, and dengue is known for it.

During the first 4 to 5 days of fever, the dengue NS1 antigen will be positive; after that, the dengue IgM test must be performed. At 4 to 5 days, both tests can yield positive or negative results. Therefore, you should conduct a dengue IgM test after two days or an NS1 test now.

Anyway, at this moment, you should strictly avoid Ibuprofen. Only paracetamol is allowed. Ibuprofen may precipitate bleeding. Monitor your platelet count daily, and if it falls below 50,000, seek admission. You should drink nearly 4 liters of water daily till the platelet count normalizes. Avoid straining to urinate and defecate.

I hope this helps you, and please get back to me if you have any doubts.

For further queries, consult an internal medicine physician online