Why fever needs attention in the rainy season
Every June and July we see more people coming in with fever, body pain and headache. During the monsoon, illnesses spread by mosquitoes and by contaminated water become more common in our area, and the early symptoms of several of them look much the same.
Please see a doctor early rather than starting medicines on your own. Depending on your symptoms and how long the fever has lasted, your doctor may advise tests such as:
- Complete blood count with platelet count
- Dengue NS1 antigen and dengue serology
- Leptospira antibody testing
- Peripheral smear or a rapid test for malaria
- Widal test and urine routine examination
Simple precautions at home
Once a week, empty the water that collects in flower pots, coconut shells, discarded tyres and open tanks around the house. Drink boiled and cooled water. If you wade through flood water or work in wet fields, wash and dry your legs well and cover any cut with a clean dressing.
Our laboratories at Pala, Erattupetta, Vaikom and Ramapuram carry out these fever investigations on a doctor's prescription, from 7:00 AM onwards, Monday to Saturday.