Doctors Warn Of Spike In Dengue, Flu & Water-Borne Illnesses As Cases Of Seasonal Fevers Rise

Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 11:27 IST

Hospital admission becomes necessary if patients have persistent vomiting, dehydration, reduced urine output, severe abdominal pain, or worsening symptoms

Doctors also recommend simple measures: adequate rest, hydration, and paracetamol for fever control. (Pixabay Image for Representation)

Hospitals across Delhi-NCR and other parts of the country are reporting a sharp surge in fever cases, overwhelming OPDs and emergency rooms. Doctors say nearly half of all patients walking in are currently presenting with fever-related complaints. The spike is being attributed to a mix of seasonal viral infections, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, as well as water-borne illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, and cholera—all of which flourish during the monsoon.

The top symptom for the majority of patients is high-grade fever accompanied by severe body ache, headache, and fatigue, while some also develop cough, sore throat, rashes, or abdominal pain. While most recover within a few days with rest, hydration, and paracetamol, experts caution that complicated cases—especially dengue with low platelets, malaria, or severe diarrhoea—require hospitalisation.

With cases appearing earlier and rising faster than in previous years, News18 spoke to almost a dozen doctors across India who urged the public not to ignore persistent fever, avoid self-medication, and seek timely medical care to prevent serious complications.

Fever Cases Spike Across Hospitals

Outpatient departments (OPDs) and emergency rooms are flooded with fever cases. “Around 50-60 per cent of the walk-in patients are reporting fever or associated symptoms," said Dr Sanchayan Roy, senior consultant, internal medicine at Delhi’s Apollo Spectra Hospital in Chirag Enclave.

At Faridabad’s Amrita Hospital, the trend is even higher. “On an average day, nearly 6-7 out of every 10 patients walk in with fever-related complaints," said Dr Mohit Sharma, senior consultant, internal medicine.

Fortis Shalimar Bagh is seeing a similar surge. “At present, almost 50 per cent of all patients visiting OPDs or emergencies are fever cases," said Dr Pawan Kumar Goyal, senior director, internal medicine.

Not only in Delhi-NCR, doctors echoed a similar trend in Mumbai and Bengaluru as well. Dr Sandeep Patil, chief intensivist at Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, Maharashtra, said of every 10 patients visiting emergency and outpatient departments, 2-3 patients present with acute febrile illnesses related to infections.

Similarly, Dr Manohar KN, lead consultant at Sparsh Hospital, Hennur Road, Bengaluru, said in the past weeks, he has witnessed a sudden rise in patients presenting with fever, especially in emergencies and OPDs. “On average, nearly 4-5 out of every 10 patients are coming in with fever-related complaints."

Viral, Vector-Borne & Water-borne Infections Drive Surge

Doctors attribute the seasonal spike to multiple overlapping infections.

The surge in illness cases is largely attributed to water-borne and vector-borne diseases prevalent in this period, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, typhoid, diarrhoea, influenza, and leptospirosis. The monsoon creates favourable conditions for the spread of these infections through stagnant water and increased mosquito breeding.

“If you look at the main infections, one is influenza-like illnesses… some patients get viral illness followed by severe muscle pain, tingling, burning, numbness, and joint pains. Some vector-borne diseases like dengue fever can cause encephalitis, and we have seen a few cases," explained Dr Sudhir Kumar, neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

He shared an incident where the hospital recently had a patient who was in altered consciousness because of severe diarrhoea, leading to renal failure requiring dialysis. “Initially, she was in altered consciousness, and that’s when we saw her, and she is still undergoing dialysis."

Dr Aakashneel Bhattacharya from the infectious diseases department at Paras Health in Gurugram highlighted a concerning trend.

“Unlike previous years, when platelet counts usually dropped after the remission of dengue fever, this year we are seeing a worrying trend where platelets are falling below dangerous levels as early as day third or fourth day of fever."

“This could be due to possible mutations in the dengue virus. Hence, I strongly advise people not to wait for 2–3 days but to get tested for dengue on the very first day of high-grade fever."

Bhattacharya pointed out that in the last seven days, every third patient visiting with fever symptoms has tested positive for dengue at his OPD. Around 85–90 per cent of fever cases are being diagnosed as dengue, which reflects the seasonal surge typically seen during the monsoon. This year, however, the peculiarity lies in the higher proportion of dengue cases in a small span of time, compared to previous years."

Common Symptoms Reported

Doctors report that most patients present with high-grade fever, severe body aches, headache, and fatigue. Some also show respiratory complaints. Hospital admission becomes necessary if patients have persistent vomiting, dehydration, reduced urine output, severe abdominal pain, or worsening symptoms. Patients with dengue and malaria may additionally present with chills, or low platelet counts.

However, Goyal from Fortis said, those with simple high-grade fever and body ache can usually be managed at home with hydration, paracetamol, and Vitamin B Complex.

“The majority of patients report persistent high-grade fever, body pains, headache, and tiredness. Others also get sore throat, cough, and signs of a cold," said Tushar Tayal, consultant at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, who is seeing 15–20 patients complaining of fever daily.

Similarly, Patil from Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, noted that “typical symptoms include fever with chills, body ache, joint pain, rash, and bleeding in some cases. For influenza, symptoms also commonly include cough and cold."

However, if the fever is prolonged or remains unexplained, doctors recommend further testing. “We recommend further investigations, including chest X-rays, and liver or kidney function tests to help identify the exact cause," said Dr Neha Sharma, attending consultant at Fortis Hospital, Manesar.

Diagnostic Tests on the Rise

Doctors emphasise that early testing helps in avoiding complications. Physicians typically conduct complete blood counts—low platelet or white cell counts can suggest viral fever or dengue. Rapid antigen tests for dengue, malaria, and influenza are useful, along with blood cultures and the Typhi-dot test for typhoid, and urine routine examination.

According to Shelly Mahajan, Lab Director, Mahajan Imaging and Labs, a noticeable uptick in flu and respiratory illnesses has been noted this year, with higher footfall of patients with flu-like symptoms. “Compared to previous monsoon seasons, viral fevers, H3N2 influenza, and upper respiratory infections are not only arriving earlier but also affecting a wider section of the population—including children and the elderly."

Mahajan told News18: “Vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are spiking earlier than usual, with case counts already surpassing those seen during the same period in past seasons."

According to Aditya Kandoi, CEO and founder of Redcliffe Labs, the past month has witnessed a sharp surge in fever-related illnesses, which is clearly reflected in the growing demand for diagnostics. “We have seen a 56 per cent rise in fever test bookings across India, underscoring the widespread impact of seasonal infections such as dengue, malaria, and viral fevers. The spike is even more pronounced in Delhi NCR, where demand has jumped by nearly 80 per cent, pointing towards an urgent public health concern in the region."

This trend is not confined to metros alone, data shows. “Several tier-2 and tier-3 cities are reporting steep increases: Patna (110 per cent), Varanasi (104 per cent), Azamgarh (97 per cent), Greater Noida (96 per cent), Gorakhpur (94 per cent), and Prayagraj (90 per cent), signalling that the surge in fever cases is truly nationwide."

Recovery and Hospitalisation

Most patients recover within a week if treated on time. “Most viral fevers resolve with simple treatment—paracetamol, hydration, and vitamin supplements," said Goyal from Fortis Hospitals.

But for complicated cases, hospitalisation is unavoidable. “Hospital admission becomes necessary if patients have persistent vomiting, dehydration, reduced urine output, severe abdominal pain, or worsening symptoms," he added.

Patil of Fortis Kalyan added, “Most patients recover within 7 to 10 days. However, severe cases such as complicated malaria, dengue with thrombocytopenia, leptospirosis, and influenza progressing to ARDS require hospital care."

At Amrita Hospital, about 10–15 per cent of patients require admission. “Especially dengue patients with low platelets or those with severe dehydration and persistent high fever," said Sharma from Amrita Hospitals.

Experts emphasise awareness and timely medical intervention. Also, in children or patients with epilepsy, urgent medical care is especially important. “If the fever doesn’t settle within 48 hours or is accompanied by vomiting, breathlessness, or reduced urine output, one should seek immediate medical help," advised Sharma.

Manohar from Sparsh Hospital cautioned against antibiotic misuse: “Antibiotic abuse needs to be stopped. Education to the public is of paramount importance."

Doctors also recommend simple measures: adequate rest, hydration, and paracetamol for fever control.

Himani Chandna

Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...Read More

Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...

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First Published:

August 28, 2025, 11:27 IST

News india Doctors Warn Of Spike In Dengue, Flu & Water-Borne Illnesses As Cases Of Seasonal Fevers Rise

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