How to differentiate dengue symptoms from a COVID-19 case

According to the latest epidemiological bulletin of the National Ministry of Health, the current dengue outbreak has resulted in 79 deaths and more than 120,000 cases in the country.

The viral disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito of this type Aedes aegypti Infected, primarily causing symptoms similar to those it causes Covid-19the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Manuel Espinosa He is a biologist and area coordinator for mosquito-borne diseases in Healthy World FoundationHe explained, “The viruses (serotypes) that cause dengue fever and the virus that causes Covid-19 It can cause similar symptoms In the early stages.”

After admitting that “these symptoms are characteristic of many processes of infectious origin,” the expert recommended that “if any of them are present, a doctor should be consulted who will follow the protocols to make the correct diagnosis.”

As we have seen, distinguishing between diseases is the key to knowing how to act in the first hours, because, for example, as is known, the coronavirus is transmitted from person to person, while dengue is not.

in it web pageMundo Sano Foundation, an organization with a mission to change the lives of people affected by neglected diseases, stated, “The… Fever “It is the most common symptom of dengue,” he said, adding that it can be accompanied by any of the following:

• Discomfort and pain in the eyes (usually behind), muscles, joints or bones
• Vomiting and nausea
• hasty

They added: “Symptoms usually begin four to ten days after the bite of an infected mosquito.” Mayo Clinic“Most people recover within about a week with plenty of hydration and rest,” they stated.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been known that the way the disease manifests can include a number of different symptoms, but the most distinctive are: Fever, body aches and headache.

However, in addition to those in common with dengue fever, MERS stands out for being a virus respiratory system diseasesTherefore, it is customary for the person convening it to also submit:

• cough
• difficulty breathing
• exhaustion
• Throat pain
• Nasal congestion

As specified on the site Medline Plusfrom the US National Library of Medicine, There is no specific medicine for dengue fever.. “Most people improve after a week or so,” they point out. However, they suggest that it is necessary in any case to consult a health professional, mention any travel undertaken recently (if it is not an endemic area) and rest as much as possible.

Likewise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends “acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) to control fever and relieve pain,” with a warning: “You should not give ibuprofen, aspirin, or medications containing aspirin.” “On the other hand, if a patient has severe dengue fever, they often have to be hospitalized.

In the case of COVID-19, vaccination – of different types and platforms – protects people from becoming seriously ill due to infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the fact that many people do not regularly continue immunization appointments, in addition to the emergence of new variants of the virus, has led to an outbreak of cases recorded in different countries, which are treated according to the characteristics of the infection.

He called the specialists “Coronadingo” To infect a person with both viruses at the same time.

He explained: “Technically, it is called a syndromic or synergistic epidemic, which is a term used in anthropological medicine when two or more epidemics occur simultaneously in a population, with shared social characteristics, and they interact with each other on a biological, psychological and social level.” Dr. Consultant, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Service Austral University Hospital, Enrique Casanova.

Regarding the consequences that dual infection could generate, pathologist and professor at the Barcelo Foundation Gerardo Lope noted, “It will depend on the immune response of each patient, because these are two viral diseases: one of them mainly affects the respiratory system.” And another at the general level.”

In the face of the spread of both viruses, specialists stressed the importance of studying patients for both diseases, because the treatments differ.