Dengue IGM, IGG- Card in Dehradun

What is a Dengue IGM, IGG- Card?

This test looks for the two antibodies the immune system makes against dengue, and the pair together indicate not just whether you have been infected but roughly when. IgM is the first responder: it becomes detectable around the fourth or fifth day of fever, peaks about two weeks in, and fades over two to three months, so its presence points to a current or very recent infection. IgG appears later in a first infection and persists for life, which means IgG alone usually reflects a past infection rather than the illness you have today. The combination that matters most clinically is IgG rising early and strongly alongside IgM, because that pattern suggests a secondary infection with a different dengue serotype. Second infections carry a higher risk of severe dengue, so the finding changes how closely someone is watched. The test's limitation is timing: because antibodies take days to appear, it is unreliable in the first three days of fever, which is exactly when the NS1 antigen test performs best. That complementarity is why the two are so often run together.

Why take this test?

This test is advised for high fever with severe body and joint ache, headache felt behind the eyes, nausea, or a rash appearing a few days into the illness, particularly from the fourth or fifth day of fever onward and especially during and after the monsoon in Dehradun and the Doon valley. It is the right choice when someone presents late, several days into a fever, when an NS1 test taken early was negative but fever has persisted, or when the day of illness is uncertain. It is usually paired with a Complete Blood Count, because confirming dengue is only half the job: platelets and haematocrit are what actually guide monitoring through the critical phase, generally days three to seven, when fever settles but the risk of plasma leak and bleeding peaks. Do not wait for any report if warning signs appear. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, black stools, breathlessness, restlessness or a sudden drop in temperature with cold clammy skin all mean hospital now.

• Fever from around day four or five of illness
• A negative early NS1 test with fever that has persisted
• Presenting late, several days into a fever
• Fever during or after the monsoon in Dehradun and the Doon valley
• Suspected second dengue infection, where IgG rises early
• Alongside a Complete Blood Count to track platelets

FAQs: Dengue IGM, IGG- Card in Dehradun