Dengue fever, a viral disease, is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms of this fever begin to start about three to fourteen days after being bitten by infected mosquitoes. These symptoms can include high fever, headache, rashes on the skin, joint and muscle pain, and vomiting.
Sometimes, dengue can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever which causes leakage of blood plasma, internal bleeding, extremely low blood pressure, and very low platelet count. These conditions can be fatal and even life-threatening.
To detect the presence of infection caused by the dengue virus, a medical specialist performs a dengue antigen test, which is also known as the dengue NS1 antigen test. The antigen is a protein that is present on the virus’ surface, and this test helps confirm the presence of infections by detecting this protein.
What Causes Dengue Fever?
A virus causes dengue fever that is passed into humans when infected mosquitoes bite. The dengue virus is usually transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito which bites during the twilight hours or early morning; therefore, a cause of the dengue epidemic is the mosquitoes that are responsible for spreading the dengue virus from infected persons to healthy persons.
Other causes can include transfusion of virus-infected blood to a healthy person and transmission of this virus from a pregnant woman to her child. Always remember that dengue can’t be spread by direct physical contact with infected persons.
What is a Dengue Antigen Test?
The dengue antigen test, also known as the early test, is for diagnosing dengue at the early stages. This test looks for the toxin and protein produced by the dengue virus. These toxins and proteins are detected in the lab by a method known as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
Early diagnosis and treatment of symptoms associated with dengue are important for successful recovery. If you start treatment at the early stages, then it can prevent the dengue fever from becoming fatal. Thus, a dengue antigen test helps in early diagnosis and reduces the risks of serious complications.
Why do I need a Dengue Antigen Test?
If you live in a region where dengue fever is prevalent, and you complain of fever, then you would need to undergo a dengue antigen test in order to rule out the chances of dengue infection. If you complain of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, abdominal pain, and retro-orbital pain, which these point towards dengue infection, an antigen test might be done.
How should this Test be Used and at What Time During an infection?
Dengue antigen tests detect NS1 during the acute phase of a dengue virus infection. These tests can be sensitive like molecular tests during the first seven days of dengue fever symptoms. After seven days, these tests are not recommended.
A positive antigen test result indicates a dengue infection but does not give serotype information. Information for the serotype of the infecting virus is not necessary for patient care. However, if serotype information is essential for surveillance purposes, then a sample can be tested by NAT.
Several types of research show that NS1 can be found in whole plasma or blood, most tests have been evaluated and developed in serum samples. While combined testing with an IgM antibody and NS1 can give a diagnostic result during the first seven days of illness.
How Can I Prepare Myself for the Dengue Antigen Test?
Usually, there are no special preparations that you need to make before undergoing this test. However, your doctor or medical specialist can ask you to follow some specific instructions before you undergo this test.
How Is This Antigen Test Done?
During this test, any medical lab technician will draw out some of your blood, using a syringe and needle which is inserted in the vein in your arm. After that, this blood sample is sent to the lab for complete analysis to detect the presence of the dengue virus.
What can I feel During This Antigen Test?
Since this test is not very complex, it involves only your blood drawing out of the vein; therefore, you will not feel a lot of discomforts. You may experience mild to moderate pain on inserting the needle into the vein; however, you will not feel any uneasiness afterward.
What are the Risks Associated with the Dengue Antigen Test?
There are very few risks associated with the dengue antigen tests because it involves only a simple blood drawing. It is very rare that you may experience continuous mild swelling or pain at the site where the needle was inserted. However, these symptoms will disappear on their own within some days.
What would be the Meanings of the Dengue Antigen Test?
If your test shows a negative result, then it means that you don’t have a dengue infection. If your result is positive, it means you have developed a dengue infection. Your physician may order more investigations to evaluate your overall health.
Conclusion
Dengue infection can be fatal or even life-threatening; therefore, it is essential to undergo a dengue antigen test to prevent serious complications. If you develop a fever or headache, and you are living in an area where dengue is prevalent, then you must undergo this test.