From July to October, most of what walks into the shop in CDA is fever. Ordinary viral fever, dengue, malaria, typhoid and chikungunya all start looking much the same in the first two days, which is why self-treating a monsoon fever past a certain point is a bad idea.

What usually settles on its own

A straightforward viral fever tends to come with a sore throat, a runny nose, body ache and a mild cough, peaks in two or three days, and eases by day five. Paracetamol, fluids and rest are genuinely the right treatment. Antibiotics do nothing for it.

When to stop waiting and get a blood test

Come in or see a doctor if any of these apply:

• Fever past day three with no sign of improving
• Severe pain behind the eyes, or bone and joint pain bad enough to disturb sleep — classic dengue
• A rash appearing around day three to five
• Fever that comes and goes with shaking chills — think malaria
• Fever that climbs steadily each evening over a week, with abdominal discomfort — think typhoid
• Any bleeding — gums, nose, unusual bruising, dark stools
• Persistent vomiting, or not passing urine for several hours
• Drowsiness, confusion, or a child who is unusually floppy or hard to rouse

The last three are emergencies. Do not wait for morning.

The one thing to avoid in a monsoon fever

Do not take ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, nimesulide or any similar painkiller for an undiagnosed fever during dengue season. These drugs affect platelets and the stomach lining, and in dengue they can turn a manageable illness into a bleeding problem. Paracetamol only, until you know what you are dealing with.

This matters because so many popular fever and body-ache combinations contain an NSAID alongside paracetamol. Check the composition on the pack.

Fluids, and what actually counts

Dehydration is what puts most dengue patients in hospital, not the virus itself. Plain water, ORS, coconut water, thin dal, rice water and buttermilk all count. Tea, coffee and fizzy drinks do not really. For an adult with fever, aim for urine that stays pale through the day — that is a more useful measure than counting glasses.

On papaya leaf extract: it is widely used and there is some evidence it raises platelet counts modestly. It is not a substitute for monitoring, and it does not treat dengue. If you want to take it, take it alongside proper medical follow-up, not instead of it.

Prevention is unglamorous and works

The mosquito that carries dengue breeds in clean standing water and bites during the day. Once a week, empty and scrub anything that holds water — cooler trays, plant saucers, buckets, the water tank lid, discarded tyres. That weekly habit does more than any repellent.

We stock ORS, paracetamol, mosquito repellents and thermometers, and deliver across Cuttack. If someone at home has a fever and you are not sure whether it needs a test yet, message us on WhatsApp — we would rather talk it through than have you wait three days.

Written by Roshan Kumar Gupta, registered pharmacist (Reg. No. 38441/OPC, Odisha Pharmacy Council) and proprietor of Gupta Meds, CDA Sector 13, Cuttack.

This article is general information, not a substitute for a consultation. Always follow the advice of your own doctor or pharmacist for your specific situation.

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