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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffDiagnosing dengue fever can be difficult. That's because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases, such as malaria, leptospirosis and typhoid fever. To diagnose dengue fever, your doctor will:
- Evaluate your signs and symptoms
- Review your medical and travel history
- Test your blood for evidence of a dengue virus
Medical history
Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history and any exposure to mosquitoes. Be sure to describe international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates, as well as any contact you may have had with mosquitoes.
Blood tests
Laboratory tests, usually using a sample of your blood, are needed to confirm a diagnosis of dengue fever. If you have dengue fever, your blood may reveal the virus itself. If not, blood tests known as hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can detect antigens, antibodies or nucleic acids specific to the viruses. These tests may take several days.
- Dengue fever overview. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/DengueFever/Understanding/overview.htm. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Rothman AL. Epidemiology of dengue virus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Dengue hemorrhagic fever - U.S.-Mexico border, 2005. MMWR. 2007;56:31. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5631a1.htm. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Rothman AL. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of dengue virus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Rothman AL. Prevention and treatment of dengue virus infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/print.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Zielinski-Gutierrez E, et al. Protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects and arthropods. In: Brunette GW, et al. CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010. Atlanta, Ga.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 2009. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-insects-arthropods.aspx. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- West Nile virus questions and answers: Insect repellent use and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Tsai T, et al. Flaviviruses (yellow fever, dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis). In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154687162-3/0/1259/1219.html?tocnode=51380756&fromURL=1219.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50152-5_5152. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
