By recognizing various common diseases that usually occur in the rainy season, we become more alert and better prepared to treat and prevent them. Before carrying out a laboratory examination, the doctor will first carry out an anamnesis to ask about the patient's complaints, then carry out a physical examination to check for any abnormalities found. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will then carry out laboratory investigations.

Examinations that can be carried out as an early detection step:

1. DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

There are several types of tests that can be done to confirm the diagnosis of dengue fever, namely:

• Complete Blood Test.

In this examination, all blood components will be checked and counted, to help determine the diagnosis. Includes platelets, plasma and hematocrit.

• NS1 test

In the dengue virus, there is a protein called NS1 which will enter the blood during infection. The NS1 test is performed to detect the presence of this protein in the blood. This test is recommended to be carried out during the early stages of infection, namely days 0 - 7.

• IgM ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test

The test  aims to detect the presence of dengue virus IgM and IgG antibodies in dengue sufferers. This test is usually recommended to be carried out after 5 days of symptoms appearing.

2. LEPTOSPIROSIS

To diagnose leptospirosis, the doctor will ask about the patient's complaints and symptoms, as well as the patient's medical history. The doctor will also ask about travel history, the patient's living conditions and activities carried out by the patient over the past 14 days. Tests that can be carried out are:

• Blood tests :  check liver function, kidney function and white blood cell levels

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test or rapid test, to detect antibodies in the body

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), to detect the presence of genetic material of Leptospira bacteria in the body

• Microscopic agglutination test (MAT), to confirm the presence of antibodies specifically associated with Leptospira bacteria

• Scanning with a CT Scan or Ultrasound, to see the condition of organs that may be affected by inflammation due to leptospirosis infection

• Blood and urine culture, to confirm the presence of Leptospira bacteria in the blood and urine.

3. TYPOID FEVER

Supporting examinations are the main diagnostic method for typhoid fever.

• Gall culture  is the gold standard for diagnosis of typhoid fever. A special planting method in certain media specifically for the growth of Salmonella typhi bacteria.

• Widal examination is a serological examination to detect antibodies to salmonella O (surface) and H (flagellar) antigens. The reference antibody titer is not the same for each endemic area, generally an O titer of 1:320 can be a strong support for the diagnosis of typhoid fever.

• The Tubex examination is a competitive semiquantitative agglutination test to detect IgM antibodies against O-9 S.typhi lipopolysaccharide antigen which appears on day 3-4 of fever so it can be used as an early detection of typhoid fever.

4. DIARRHEA

It is a condition where the sufferer defecates (defecates) more often than usual. A person can be said to have diarrhea if the person in question defecates three or more times in one day. To diagnose the cause of diarrhea, the following tests are carried out:

• Stool examination, to check for bacteria or parasites that cause diarrhea

• Blood tests, to detect complications that may occur due to diarrhea and detect other diseases that can cause diarrhea.

5. ISPA

This examination will begin when a person experiences respiratory problems. Here the doctor will check for symptoms and other diseases you have experienced. Next, the doctor will look at the condition of the nose, ears and throat to detect possible infections. The doctor will diagnose ISPA by conducting a medical interview, physical examination and supporting examinations such as:

• Complete hematological examination.

• Sputum sampling

• X-ray  thorax or CT scan of the lungs  to assess the condition of the lungs.

Author: Dr. Luh Ayu Krisnayanti Darma (PRAMITA Clinical Laboratory Medical Consultant Jl. Pajajaran No. 86 Bandung)