World Malaria Day: Know the difference between malaria and dengue

Malaria and dengue are two widespread illnesses related to mosquitoes. Each are mosquito-borne illnesses, and might trigger fever, headache and muscle aches. Prevention methods for each these illnesses embody vector management measures equivalent to eliminating mosquito breeding websites and utilizing protecting measures like insect repellents. If not taken critically, they’ll even flip lethal. Regardless that they’re comparable in some methods, malaria and dengue are totally different. On World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25 April, we inform you the variations between malaria and dengue.

What’s malaria?

Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious illness, is brought on by the Plasmodium parasite. It’s transmitted to people by the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes which might be contaminated, says basic doctor Dr Aarif Hussain Bhat.

What’s dengue fever?

Dengue fever, brought on by the dengue virus, is a viral an infection transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, particularly Aedes aegypti.

What are the variations between malaria and dengue?

It’s true that each malaria and dengue are mosquito-borne illnesses, however they’re transmitted by totally different species of mosquitoes. Listed here are a few of the variations between the 2 illnesses:

1. Signs

Malaria signs normally embody fever, chills, sweats, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Dengue signs are sudden onset of fever, extreme headache, ache behind the eyes, joint and muscle ache, rash, and delicate bleeding.

2. Causes

Malaria is brought on by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted when the contaminated Anopheles mosquitoes chew individuals. Dengue is brought on by the dengue virus, transmitted by the chew of contaminated Aedes mosquitoes.

3. Threat elements

Threat elements for malaria embody journey to areas the place malaria is endemic, lack of preventive measures equivalent to mattress nets or insect repellent, says the knowledgeable. Threat elements for dengue embody residing in or travelling to areas the place dengue is prevalent, insufficient mosquito management measures, and lack of immunity to the virus.

4. Analysis

Malaria analysis includes microscopic examination of blood smears for the presence of Plasmodium parasites or speedy diagnostic checks detecting particular antigens. Dengue analysis usually includes blood checks to detect the virus or antibodies.

5. Therapy

Malaria remedy normally includes antimalarial medicines equivalent to Chloroquine, artemisinin-based mixture therapies (ACTs), or different medicine relying on the species of Plasmodium and drug resistance patterns. Dengue remedy focuses on supportive care to alleviate signs, as there isn’t any particular antiviral remedy out there as of now.

Is malaria deadlier than dengue?

Malaria tends to be deadlier than dengue, notably in areas the place there may be restricted entry to healthcare and in circumstances of extreme malaria. Malaria can result in issues equivalent to cerebral malaria, extreme anemia, respiratory misery, or organ failure, which may be deadly if not handled promptly. Whereas dengue may also be extreme and result in issues equivalent to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, the mortality price is mostly decrease in comparison with extreme malaria.

Globally in 2022, there have been 608000 malaria deaths in 85 nations, based on the World Well being Group. Dengue circumstances have shot up from 505430 in 2000 to five.2 million in 2019, and for the reason that starting of 2023 ongoing transmission, there have been greater than 6.5 million circumstances. Over 7300 deaths associated to dengue had been reported, as per the WHO.

Learn how to forestall malaria and dengue?

All of it begins with mosquito management. So, remove standing water the place mosquitoes can breed. Use insecticide-treated mattress nets, and apply mosquito repellents containing picaridin, suggests the knowledgeable.

You may as well do the next:

• Put on long-sleeved tops and pants, particularly throughout peak mosquito exercise instances like within the night.
• Make use of screens in your home windows and doorways to cease mosquitoes from coming into your property.
• Implement community-based mosquito management applications and lift consciousness in regards to the significance of preventive measures to assist scale back the transmission of each malaria and dengue.

Each malaria and dengue are mosquito-borne illnesses that may flip deadly, making it vital to take crucial steps if you happen to discover the signs.