Dengue Antibody IgM
Understanding Dengue Antibody IgM
What is Dengue Antibody IgM?
Dengue is an infection caused by the bite of infected mosquitoes born during the rainy season more prevalently. This test indicates the presence of IgM antibodies produced by the body to fight the infection of dengue virus.The symptoms of dengue fever include high fever, chills, joints pain, bleeding gums and nausea.
IgM antibodies are the first type of antibodies produced by the body hence help in early detection. Late diagnosis or treatment may lead to fatal conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome and extreme fall in platelets and white blood cells count.
As the IgM antibodies appear in the body after 4-5 days of infection. Therefore a negative IgM test does not rule out the possibility of dengue infection always. A repeated test after 6-7 days is recommended.
What is Dengue Antibody IgM used for?
- If you have signs or symptoms of dengue fever like sudden high fever, severe headaches or pain behind the eye, joint or bone pains, easy bruising or gum and nose bleeds
Interpreting Dengue Antibody IgM results
Interpretations
- If the dengue IgG antibody test is positive, but the IgM is low or negative, it usually indicates that a person had an infection sometime in the past
- If the dengue IgG antibody test titre increase fourfold or greater between an initial sample and one taken 2 to 4 weeks later, then it is likely that a person has had a recent infection
- Positive IgG and IgM antibody tests indicate current infection with dengue virus
- Negative tests for IgM and/or IgG usually mean that the person tested does not have a dengue infection