New Delhi: With the onset of monsoon season vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are rising but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and similar symptoms that are seen in the three diseases, people are confused about how to figure out their cause of trouble. Fever, headaches, body aches and fatigue are experienced in all three diseases.
“A virus is responsible for causing both COVID-19 and Dengue, while a parasite (Protozoa) is the cause behind the Malaria disease. All the conditions have specific similar symptoms, which might confuse one on how to differentiate among the three,” shares Dr Sandeep B. Gore, Director-Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
Loss of taste and smell, heaviness in the chest, cough, and difficulty in breathing are symptoms that are distinct to COVID-19 infection.
“One of the significant symptoms of COVID-19 is the loss of taste and smell. This is not the case for either Dengue or Malaria,” shares Dr Gore
He further adds, “COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, shortness of breath, uncomfortable chest pain are not generally present in a patient suffering from Malaria or Dengue”.
He however insists it is best to visit a doctor and get yourself tested at the earliest.
Dr Sudha Menon, Director of Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru explains, “Covid symptoms include cough, cold, sore throat, loss of smell and taste and breathlessness. Dengue can cause nausea, bitter taste, higher fever, eye pain and rashes. Malaria causes severe chills, high grade fever and profuse sweating intermittently.”
The transmission of COVID-19 is airborne and thus is caused by other humans, unlike Dengue and Malaria that are caused by mosquito bites.
“SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly through respiratory droplets, which may come out while talking, sneezing, and coughing. On the other hand, Dengue is caused by 4 different types of viruses, and it infects a person when an infected Aedes mosquito (mostly Aedes Aegypti) bites them. When an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a person, they contract Malaria,” shares Dr Paritosh Baghel, Senior Consultant-Internal Medicine, SL Raheja Hospital Mahim.
Bureau Report
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