Differentiation Between Malaria and Dengue: Some Important Points of Distinction, Similarities, and Precautions

Come monsoon time and you have a lot of still water which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitos and then there is a huge influx of both Malaria and Dengue.

Now both malaria and dengue represent a significant public health challenge. There are some ways through which the two diseases resemble one another and ways in which they are apart. They are pathogen-caused but have diverse characteristics. Knowing the leading differences and similarities between malaria and dengue will facilitate their effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Read on to make sure you know all there is to keep yourself and your family safe this rainy season.

Symptoms

It is important to know the difference between the two diseases because the sooner you know, the faster you can start the correct treatment for it. And while there may be similar symptoms it’s best to know the differentiators so you can give the best treatment at the earliest.

Malaria

Fever and Chills: Cycles of high fever with chills.

Sweating: Intense perspiration that follows once the fever starts to recede.

Headache: Throbbing headache.

Muscle and Joint Pain: Body ache.

Nausea and Vomiting: Gastric symptoms.

Dengue

High Fever: Suddenly high fever.

Severe Headache: Severe pain behind the eyes.

Joint and Muscle Pain: So severe, that it is often called "breakbone fever."

Rash: Red rash that could spread all over the body.

Nausea and Vomiting: A highly common gastrointestinal feature.

Fatigue: Generalized fatigue leading to illness.

Bleeding: From simple petechiae to severe bleeding tendencies, including epistaxis and gingival bleeding, with easy bruising seen in severe cases.

Diagnosis

If you still are not sure of the symptoms, there is an easy way to diagnose it. Here are the tests that let you know your diagnosis.

Malaria

Microscopy: Detection of Plasmodium parasites in blood smears.

Rapid DiagnosticTests (RDTs): Detection of specific antigens produced by malaria parasites.

PCR Tests: Molecular tests to detect low parasite levels and speciation.

Dengue

Blood Tests: Diagnosis of the dengue virus antigen (NS1), antibody (IgM and IgG) presence and viral RNA (RT-PCR).

Clinical Diagnosis: Based on symptoms and the history of the patient particularly any travel to endemic areas.

Treatment

Once you know your diagnosis, it’s time to start the treatment. And while the following are the treatments, it’s best to get your doctor to give you recommendations on the course to follow.

Malaria

Antimalarial Medications: Depends on the species of the Plasmodium and severity. Common medications are chloroquine, ACTs, quinine, and doxycycline.

Supportive Care: Providing fluids, monitoring and correcting electrolyte levels, and treating complications.

Dengue

SupportiveCare: There is no specific antiviral medication; supportive care is aimed at hydration, pain control with acetaminophen, and monitoring for complications.

Avoid NSAIDs: Due to the potential of contributing to bleeding, NSAIDs like ibuprofen are to be avoided.

Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure, so at the start of the seasons here are some steps you can take to make sure you and your family are safe from this mosquito menace of the monsoons.

Malaria

Insect Repellents: Apply repellents on the skin that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Protective Clothing: Wear protective clothing—ideally, long sleeves and pants to minimize skin exposure.

Bed Nets: Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets while in mosquito-infested areas, especially when travelling to endemic areas.

Antimalarial Prophylaxis: Travelers to malaria-endemic regions are strongly recommended to take chemoprophylaxis.

Dengue

Insect Repellents: Apply an effective amount of insect repellent all over exposed areas of the body.

Protective Clothing: Wear clothing that will cover most of the body.

Eliminate Standing Water: Standing water is the breeding source for Aedes mosquitoes, which must be eliminated.

Conclusion

Although malaria and dengue are two mosquito-borne diseases, both have several similarities, but the causative organisms are different, and so too the diagnostic, treatment, and preventive strategies. Knowledge of the distinct dissimilarities and similarities between the two diseases may help take proper caution to prevent the diseases oneself and one's relatives. Stay informed, take prevention, and seek medical care if you have symptoms of either disease in time.