Monsoon fever is common. Find out when it is common viral or when it could be dengue fever. From the scorching heat, the monsoon ushers in much-anticipated relief. But along with increased sweat, rain, mosquito breeding and fluctuating temperatures, it also brings back familiar health worries. One of the most common problems that shows up is sudden fever. The tricky part is that fever symptoms overlap, usually making it difficult to tell whether it is a regular viral fever or dengue. This is why timely testing and the right diagnosis matter during the rainy season.ALSO READ: Oncologist lists 5 childhood cancer red flags: Fever, fatigue, lumps and moreHigh fever is a common sign of both dengue and viral fever. (Picture credit: Freepik)To understand the distinction between the two, haematopathologist Dr Kunal Sehgal, director, Neuberg Sehgal Path Lab, helped clarify when a fever could be viral and when it may point to dengue. Usually, the signs are similar in the beginning, but knowing how to detect the difference early can help patients get the diagnosis and treatment on time and avoid unnecessary panic.He said it is critical to know the difference and not confuse dengue with recurring viral fever. "The difference is extremely important since dengue can be a potentially dangerous illness, compared to other simple viruses.”What are the overlapping signs of dengue and viral fever?Let's understand which signs may overlap and cause confusion. "In both cases, dengue and other viral infections like the influenza virus present with fever, tiredness, fatigue, muscle weakness, etc.”In the early stage, both dengue and regular viral fever can look very similar. Symptoms like fever and weakness may not immediately reveal the exact cause, which is why confusion can occur.How is dengue different from viral?Dengue is much more intense than viral.However, if you look closely, some tell-tale signs may point more towards dengue. These symptoms are usually more intense.The haematopathologist added, "What sets dengue apart is its presence of distinct signs such as acute fever with severe headaches, pain behind the eye region, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, etc. In some cases, patients also develop gum bleeding, nose bleeding, bruising, and severe abdominal pain.”Which diagnostic tests should be done?As per the doctor, the goal should be to detect the infection early. Anyone who develops a fever during the monsoon should take it seriously and visit a doctor to check whether it is viral fever or dengue. He also mentioned that the NS1 antigen test, when done in the early days of fever, can help diagnose dengue effectively. Molecular tests, Dr Sehgal believed, such as PCR, may also be used in some cases, while dengue antibody tests are more helpful as the illness progresses. These tests help to give the complete picture because, according to the hempathologist, most may have normal platelets even in the early days of dengue, while low platelets might not necessarily mean a serious situation.Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.Adrija Dey’s proclivity for observation fuels her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she crafts compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bones, carried by human vessels and shaped through everyday endeavours. It is the small stories we live and share that make us human. After all, humans and their lores are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and uncovering them, for her, is akin to peeling an orange under a winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered yapping, where "too much information" is kind of the point. A graduate of Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi, and an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her idle hours cocooned with herbal tea and a gripping thriller, scribbling inner monologues she loosely calls poetic pieces, often with her succulents in attendance. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one from her comfort-show holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. Dancing by herself to her peppy playlists, however, is an everyday ritual she swears by religiously.Read MoreDengueHealthCatch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.See Less