Dengue and Malaria are both important public health issues in India and pose a great threat to the lives of scores of Indians across the country. Dengue afflicts almost 500,000 people per year, causing many deaths. Malaria is much more prevalent than dengue. It kills an estimated 1 million people per year. Both diseases have a significant impact on the availability of healthcare resources, whether they be human or financial resources. The rising cases of Dengue and Malaria has also led to increased awareness among the masses regarding these diseases.
Dengue fever and Malaria are 2 of the worst diseases to have hit India in recent years, both causing a host of problems within our healthcare system. However, despite Dengue being far more prevalent than Malaria over the past few years, India’s efforts to stem the spread of Malaria have yielded better results than combating Dengue. There have been several cases where local government bodies have successfully cut down on the spread of the disease.
While both diseases are mosquito borne, and can be life-threatening if left untreated, Dengue and Malaria affect several hundred million people every year. You must be wondering how to differentiate between the two diseases. They may sound similar but when it comes to symptoms, Dengue and Malaria are as different as chalk from cheese.
Different Signs and Symptoms of Malaria and Dengue?
Dengue is usually a self-limiting illness that ranges from mild to rather severe forms. Dengue fever is the more common form of dengue and the symptoms may include:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headaches.
- Fever and chills.
- Muscle pain and fatigue
The difference between dengue fever and malaria, other than their obvious symptoms, is that dengue infects the blood and can lead to a fever. Malaria infects the red blood cells, causing it to rupture and release the parasite cells. One potential cause of death from malaria is organ failure, which occurs from the spleen releasing millions of ruptured RBCs in an attempt to prevent further infection.
Dengue fever is not a new disease, it has been around for more than a hundred years. With Dengue gaining ground again in India, especially in cities like Delhi and Kanpur, it is natural to know that most people do not know much about the disease,
Which One is Deadlier?
Looking at Dengue vs Malaria (two mosquito-borne infections), it is hard to make an informed choice on which is more dangerous to your health. The reason for this confusion is because both make you feel ill and have flu-like symptoms.
Dengue fever and Malaria both fall under the infectious disease umbrella. The former is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted through infected mosquito bites, while the latter is a mosquito-borne parasitic blood disease that occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical climates. Their symptoms are almost similar, differing in some ways. They are considered the world’s biggest killers of mankind, killing nearly half a million people every year. Dengue was the deadliest infectious disease in the world in 2013, causing about 494 000 deaths worldwide. It’s also called ‘breakbone fever’ because of how severe its symptoms are — such as joint pain — and spread to all countries with a tropical environment.
Treatment for Malaria and Dengue Differ?
Malaria and Dengue fever are parasites that affect your blood. They do this by entering your red blood cells. Once in the red blood cells, there is a division process called schizogony which occurs and more parasites are formed. The problem is, when a lot of these parasites exist within you, a toxically painful condition is formed which is known as Malaria (if caused by Plasmodium) or Dengue fever(If the infection is caused by any other virus).
Dengue and Malaria are two mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Both of these diseases spread via the bite of an infected mosquito. The risk factors, symptoms, complications are different for Dengue and Malaria. Doctors usually prescribe medicines to keep the body temperature low, prevent vomiting, treat shock and a blood transfusion to those with severe symptoms of Dengue.
Dengue and Malaria are mosquito-borne diseases that can affect people of all ages. Dengue fever symptoms develop 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. This is followed by a high fever, severe headache, eye pain and aching joints. The illness usually lasts for two to seven days. Complete rest and administration of pain-killers is enough to cure the disease in most cases. Malaria symptoms tend to develop 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They include high fever (often with chills), vomiting, weakness, and stomach pains.
Dengue fever and Malaria are two common diseases that threaten millions of people worldwide. Both are very dangerous and potentially fatal, but it is easy to protect yourself against both using simple preventive measures. Read on to learn how Dengue fever and Malaria affect the body, and how you can prevent or treat both easily.
