Why does malaria test sometimes come negative, but symptoms persist?Image Credit Source: Getty Images
Malaria symptoms with negative test: Many states of the country are receiving heavy rains these days, due to which the number of mosquitoes is increasing and the risk of malaria has increased rapidly. During the rainy season, the water and dirt accumulated mosquitoes become a place and these mosquitoes deliver the parasite spreading malaria to the body. Malaria is a serious infection, which spreads in the body through blood. Especially in children and the elderly, its seriousness is more. If not identified at the right time, troubles may increase. Therefore, it is very important to be vigilant in this season.
The main symptoms of malaria include frequent fever, shivering, sweating, headache and weakness in the body. Apart from this, problems like vomiting, stomach pain and fatigue can also be seen. In severe cases, symptoms such as anemia, excessive weakness and effect on organs may appear in the patient. These symptoms can increase quickly and rapidly in children. Often fever rises every 2 to 3 days, which helps in identifying malaria. However, all these symptoms of malaria can be negative many times despite being present in the body. There are some reasons behind this, which needs to be known.
Why does the test negative many times?
Dr. Subhash Giri, Unit Head in Medicine Department at RML Hospital, Delhi It is said that even when the symptoms of kimalaria are visible, sometimes the test comes negative, there are many reasons behind it. The first reason is that in the early days of the disease, the parasites that spread malaria in the blood are very low, so the normal test does not catch it. The second reason may be that the parasite is hidden in any part of the body, such as liver or other organs and does not appear in the blood.
Dr. Subhash says that sometimes the method of test or machine capacity can also affect the result. If the patient has already taken any medicine, then the test may come negative. Apart from this, different tests are effective in catching malaria, so sometimes test can also come negative. In all these situations, doctors confirm the test again or with the help of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and Blood Smear Test. Therefore, there may be malaria, but the test may not be caught on the initial stage or there may be any other infection, such as viral fever, dengue or typhoid, whose symptoms are similar to malaria. This is the reason that it is very important to be cautious when symptoms appear and seek medical advice on time.
Take care of these things
Follow mosquito nets and mosquito escape measures.
Do not allow water to accumulate at home and around.
Contact the doctor immediately as soon as you see symptoms like fever or malaria.
If the symptoms continue even if the test is negative, then get the test done again.
Pay special attention to children and the elderly, their immunity is weak.
Take care of cleanliness and hygiene.