With cases of dengue rising, people are getting confused between dengue fever and coronavirus. The symptoms of both are overlapping which is affecting diagnosis and treatment. The overlapping symptoms are leaving even doctors perplexed. Some people consider fever as normal whereas it could be the initial stage of dengue. Since dengue and covid both have several similar symptoms, it is important that we learn to identify them.
The risk of overlapping symptoms
Generally dengue and other vector-borne diseases persist till end of monsoon but they may stretch upto early winter months too. Since dengue is a mosquito-borne illness, people have this wrong perception that dengue occurs only in the mosquito breeding season. Currently, cases of dengue fever are rising in many states which indicates that this disease is still in progression.
In addition to this, COVID-19 cases have reduced significantly after the vaccination but not completely eradicated. These two illnesses have a lot of similar symptoms that are very confusing.
Some of the common or overlapping symptoms of covid and dengue are high fever, joint pain, headache, body ache, muscle pain, and fatigue.
In the present scenario, cases of dengue are greater than of coronavirus. The national capital has seen a sudden spike in dengue cases in the past couple of weeks. Doctors mention about the high risk of dengue but they also warn of the coronavirus threat amid all the seasonal infections and illnesses.
Also Read: Can You Contract COVID-19 And Dengue At The Same Time?
How to identify Covid-19 and dengue through symptoms
Here are some important pointers that would help you differentiate between these two:
- If you experience loss of taste and smell, it is covid-19 and not dengue
- Issues like headache, dry cough, high fever, breathing problem, chest pain and sore throat are of covid-19
- Diarrhoea along with other symptoms indicates dengue fever
- If you experience itchy skin and rashes, you have dengue
- If you feel extremely tired and not able to get up, you are highly likely to have dengue as it weakens the body and affects platelets
Doctors prescribe both covid and dengue tests to patients with similar symptoms. This helps identify the exact problem and then treat accordingly. Since dengue fever can lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever in the absence of timely treatment, its timely diagnosis is very important. Also, there is no medicine to treat these conditions and so, management is crucial.
Also Read: 7 Foods To Increase Platelet Count In Dengue Patients
Don’ ignore any fever
Since both covid-19 and dengue are life-threatening diseases, one should not ignore any probable symptoms, high fever being the most common.
Most people when they get fever consider it as a normal flu or common fever which might not be the case every time. Doctors recommend consulting a physician if you have high fever for two or more days. Get tested for covid, dengue, malaria and chikungunya. As soon as the pathology results come, start the treatment. This would reduce the delay time and help you recover faster.
If you suspect anything, get tested immediately. Sometimes, we know that something is not right with our body and that it needs medical intervention. By giving that, you are helping your body recover.
Disclaimer- This article is for informational purpose only. Do not self medicate at home, contact your doctor for professional help.
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