The Dengue Antigen Test: Know All About The Test For Dengue Detection & Cure

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes high fever, headache, and vomiting. It is caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses. About 400 million cases have occurred each year. It is transmitted when a person is bitten by Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus which usually doesn’t spread directly from one person to another person.

What is Dengue NS1 Antigen Test?

• These are the tests that detect the non- structural protein NS1 of the dengue virus. The protein is then secreted into the blood during dengue infection.
• NS1 is used in serum. Some of them use synthetically labelled antibodies to detect dengue NS1 protein. The Ns1 test is used during the acute phase of dengue virus infections. They are sensitive as molecular tests during the first 0-7 days of symptoms.
• The detection of dengue infection can help in avoiding severe complications. The antibodies developed due to infections appear five or more than five days after. The bio- rad laboratories and Pasteur institute introduced the dengue NS1 antigen test in 2006 to detect the dengue. The dengue antigen test has been a success in most cases. Almost 40 countries have adopted this method since its introduction. The first instance of this test in India was in 2010 in a Mumbai hospital.most of these tests have been developed and evaluated in serum samples.

Importance of Dengue NS1 Antigen Test

It is important to detect as early as possible as late detection can lead to Dengue Shock or dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Also Read: What to Do When you have Dengue

Advantages  

• Early detection allows for prompt treatment of the patient.
• Early diagnosis saves your investigations and treatment.
• It prevents and manages if any complications return.

It is preferable to find a medical centre in your city which uses the NS1 Antigen Test for the earliest possible detection and prevention of Dengue. If you find any signs or symptoms in you or your family member, visit a doctor immediately. The dengue NS1 rapid test is useful in case of early detection and prompt treatment.

Symptoms Of Dengue

The symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the infection. There are severe symptoms such as dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). If the case is severe, an individual is hospitalized. They begin 4 to 7 days after being bit by a mosquito and lasts 3 to 10 days.

Also Read: Natural Remedies for Dengue Prevention and Treatment At Home

• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rashes
• Fever
• Swollen glands

Usually, the infected person recovers within a week or so. In a few cases, symptoms worsen and can be life-threatening. The blood vessels are damaged and leaky. The platelets drop and can cause a severe form of dengue fever such as dengue hemorrhagic fever

Causes

• They are caused by four types of dengue virus spread by mosquitoes near human lodgings. When an infected person is bitten by a mosquito and then bites another person, the virus enters in that person’s bloodstream
• After recovery, you have immunity to the type of virus that infected you. The risk increases if you’re infected more than twice.

Risk factors

• Previous infection with dengue fever: this increases the risk of having severe symptoms if you’re infected again and again
• Living in tropical areas: living in a tropical area increases the risk of virus that causes dengue fever.

Complications

They can damage the lungs. Liver or heart. Blood or heart. This happens when the blood pressure drops to dangerous levels causing shock and, in some cases, death.

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