Which period is most dangerous in dengue?

4th and 7th day of dengue is very critical when the patient gets symptoms of fever but they ignore it. Patients should get an early check-up because a little ignorance can cause a critical phase to happen.

What should I not eat during dengue?

Your body may get dehydrated. So tea, coffee or any caffeine product could lead to water excretion from the body as urine.

How does dengue get spread?

It can spread by animals and the bites or stings of an insect.

Can I get infected by another person?

It& 039;s better if you don& 039;t come close to others as it can cause them dengue infection.

Is dengue covered in health Insurance policy in India?

Yes, various options in insurance cover the overall treatment of dengue up to Rupees 10,000-1 lakh.

Can I get infected by dengue again?

The human body develops immunity against the particular dengue strain that we have had earlier. But there are chances you can get infected with another type of variant as well.

Written by Simran Nirala

Published: 12 Aug 2024

Updated: 27 May 2026

7 min read

Expert Verified

IRDAI Licensed

Dengue Treatment: Introduction

Dengue is a significant health challenge across India, from rural areas to major cities like New Delhi and Hyderabad. Unhygienic conditions and waterlogging contribute to mosquito breeding, making dengue a substantial financial burden. Treatment costs can range from INR 5,000 to INR 5 Lakhs, with an average of approximately INR 30,000. This makes treatment unaffordable for many middle to lower-income families. To address this, many Indian insurance companies offer health insurance plans at affordable premiums, providing access to better diagnosis and treatment facilities. Learn more about dengue, its causes, diagnosis, treatment costs, and prevention methods in this article.

What is Dengue?

Dengue is a deadly and communicable disease spread by the DENV virus, carried to humans through infected mosquitoes.

These DENV strains cause different stages of dengue. Dengue symptoms include headache, high fever, nausea, body pain, and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, it can lead to bleeding, trauma, or even be fatal. Early identification of symptoms can be challenging as patients may not initially experience severe illness.

Symptoms that Lead to Dengue Treatment

Dengue shows mild symptoms when a person gets infected, with conditions often improving within 1-2 weeks. However, symptoms can sometimes be severe and go unrecognized. Key symptoms of dengue infection include:

Stages of Dengue	Duration	Symptoms
Febrile Phase	This phase usually lasts up to 2-7 days	Headache	Vomiting
		Face redness	Joint or bone pain
		Eye pain	Skin Rashes or Petechiae
		Appetite loss	Abdominal pain
		Muscular pain	Nausea
Critical Phase	This phase may extend 3-7 days from the febrile phase	Abnormal bleeding	Breathing suffocation
		Severe stomach pain	Hypovolemic shocks, high fever
		Gum bleeding	Blood pressure fluctuation
		Fatigue/lethargies	Quick fever drop
		Enlarging liver	Gastrointestinal bleeding
		Urine, vomit, stool blood	Prolonged menstruation (in women)
Recovery Phase	The final phase or recovery phase lasts up to 1-3 days from the critical phase ends	Weakness symptoms drop	The liver shrinks to normal, slowly
		Fever subsidies	Appetite improves gradually
		Normalizing blood pressure	Red patches start disappearing
		Pulse rate rises	Rashes gets cured
		Urine output increases	Blood vessels get normal

Ways Through Which Dengue is Spread

Dengue can be transmitted through several ways:

Mosquito bites
The female Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector that transmits the dengue-causing virus. Once infected with the DENV virus, this mosquito remains a transmitter of dengue for its entire life.
Human-mosquito
If an infected person is bitten by a mosquito, that mosquito may then infect others.
Maternal factors
If a pregnant woman is bitten by dengue vectors, the unborn baby may also catch the infection, potentially leading to premature delivery, low birth weight, or fetal distress.
Other factors
Other transmitting factors include transmission through organ or blood donation if the donor had dengue symptoms.

Factors on Which the Cost of Dengue Treatment in India Depends

The cost of dengue treatment in India varies by hospital and location. It primarily depends on the severity of the infection and the diagnostic tests required. Here are the common tests performed to diagnose dengue:

Tests Done to Diagnose Dengue

Lab Test Names	Why is it Performed?
Complete blood test	Performed to diagnose, monitor progress, and assess the spread of dengue symptoms.
Electrolyte test	Checks for electrolytic disturbances (Na+, K+, Cl-) in the infected person's body.
Liver function test	Includes AST, ALT, and GGT to monitor liver functionality and detect any damage or dysfunction.
Albumin test	Helps assess plasma leakage, which is directly responsible for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.
Renal function test	Conducted to examine kidney functionality and complications using markers like Urea, Cystatin, Creatinine, and MicroAlbuminuria.
CRP test	Checks for inflammatory symptoms caused by high dengue fever.
Dengue NS1 antigen test	Detects the presence of the NS1 protein, a non-structural protein of the dengue virus responsible for the disease.
IgM antibody test	Performed to detect antibodies against the dengue-causing virus, especially in non-severe conditions.
IgG antibody test	Detects Immunoglobulin-G antibodies to counter infectious or viral symptoms of dengue.

NOTE: Dengue diagnosis is based on these test results:

Case: 1 NS1 and/or IgM positive, IgG negative = Primary dengue infection diagnosed.

Case: 2 NS1 and/or IgM positive, IgG positive = Second-stage dengue infection diagnosed.

Case: 3 NS1, IgM, IgG negative = No dengue infection present.

Cost of Dengue Treatment in India

The medical cost of dengue treatment in India varies significantly across hospitals based on facilities and treatment required. While overall costs can range from INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000 or more, the table below provides estimated average costs for common diagnostic tests:

Name of the Tests	Cost of the Tests (Average charges in INR)
Dengue IGG Antibody test	600
Dengue IgM Antibody test	600
Dengue IGG and IGM Antibody test	1800
Dengue Duo Screening Test	1100
Dengue Fever Panel	1299
Dengue Fever Panel-Advance	1699
Dengue Fever Panel- Comprehensive	1999
Dengue RNA PCR test	3200
NS1 Antigen Test	540
Medications	Depending upon the prescription

NOTE: This table represents estimated charges from a specific lab and does not reflect universal prices. Costs may vary across clinics and hospitals.

How can Dengue be Prevented and Treated from Spreading?

Dengue transmission can be prevented through various measures, starting at home. Here are ways to control its spread:

Control Methods at Home:

Use turmeric daily to boost immunity and metabolic strength.
Intake of papaya leaf extract can inhibit viral growth and replication.
For an Ayurvedic approach, Giloy is a wonderful remedy.
Vegetables like bitter gourd and bottle gourd are good sources to cure minor dengue symptoms.

Medical Support in case of severity:

Consult a doctor immediately if you experience dengue symptoms.
In cases of dehydration, electrolytic transfusions may be administered.
Analgesic medications are useful for joint or bone pain associated with dengue infection.
Consider getting vaccinated against dengue if you have had prior symptoms or are at risk.

Prevention of Dengue:

Use mosquito nets while sleeping to prevent mosquito bites.
Apply mosquito repellents made with natural ingredients like Neem, cinnamon, lemon+eucalyptus, or lavender oils.
Use natural essential oils at home; their diffusion can be effective in preventing dengue.
Keep your surroundings clean and tidy to prevent mosquitoes from breeding rapidly.
Avoid storing stagnant water, as it creates breeding grounds for infected mosquitoes.
Avoid junk food and include healthy, easily digestible food in your meals. Drink more water.

Government Scheme for Dengue Treatment

The Government of India has launched a useful scheme for dengue treatment, benefiting individuals and families who cannot afford costly medical care. This national scheme, known as the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), aims to control and stop the spread of diseases caused by viruses like Malaria, Dengue, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya, and Lymphatic Filariasis.

Conclusion

Dengue infection can be severe and, at times, deadly. Factors like population growth, human migration, water storage practices, and lifestyle contribute to its spread. While specific medications for dengue are limited, adopting preventive measures at home is crucial to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Multiple health insurance providers in the Indian market provide coverage for the treatment cost of dengue in India. You can get a quote from expert advisors at PolicyX.com for more info.