Mumbai: Nearly one in three individuals undergoing comprehensive fever testing in India were diagnosed with serious infections such as dengue, typhoid and malaria, according to a new analysis by Thyrocare Technologies Ltd.
The study, based on data collected between 2023 and 2025 from over 1.08 lakh patients across the country, highlights a significant infectious disease burden behind what is often dismissed as routine fever.
The findings showed that around 33 per cent of patients opting for comprehensive fever packages tested positive for infections including dengue, typhoid, malaria, chikungunya and leptospirosis, underscoring the risks of self-diagnosis and delayed medical intervention.
Among the detected infections, typhoid emerged as the most common, affecting 18.1 per cent of patients, followed by dengue at 14.4 per cent. Cases of malaria, chikungunya and leptospirosis were also recorded across the testing population.
The report further revealed that nearly 10 per cent of infection-positive individuals had co-infections, most commonly a combination of dengue and typhoid, which can complicate diagnosis and delay appropriate treatment due to overlapping symptoms.
“Recognising fever as a critical signal empowers patients and clinicians to act decisively and shift from reactive to timely care,” said Rahul Guha, MD and CEO, Thyrocare.
Dr Preet Kaur, Chief Scientific Officer, Thyrocare, said the data indicates that fever often reflects deeper systemic stress, with laboratory findings showing abnormalities such as reduced platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.
According to the analysis, low platelet levels were observed in 27 per cent of fever patients, compared to 15 per cent among non-fever cases. The drop was particularly significant in malaria-positive patients, with nearly 80 per cent affected, and in dengue-positive cases, where 37 per cent showed reduced platelet counts.
Liver enzyme abnormalities were also prevalent, with 56 per cent of fever patients showing elevated SGOT levels and 37 per cent elevated SGPT levels, both higher than those observed in individuals without fever.
The study also tracked trends over the three-year period, noting a decline in dengue positivity, while malaria cases showed a gradual increase despite a lower overall base. Typhoid and chikungunya saw a rise in 2024 before easing in 2025.
Seasonal variations were evident, with dengue cases typically peaking around October, while malaria incidence increased during monsoon months between May and September.
Gender-based differences were also observed. Overall infection positivity was slightly higher among women at 32 per cent compared to 29 per cent in men, driven largely by higher typhoid detection. In contrast, malaria incidence was more than twice as high in men.
The report also analysed standalone testing data from 2.59 lakh patients, which showed an overall positivity rate of 22.6 per cent. Typhoid recorded a positivity rate of 22.7 per cent, dengue 16.6 per cent, and chikungunya 23 per cent, while malaria remained relatively low at 1.6 per cent despite high testing volumes.
The findings highlight the importance of timely and comprehensive diagnostic testing in identifying infections early and guiding appropriate treatment, particularly in cases where multiple infections may be present.
