Malaria, dengue, and chikungunya are three types of mosquito-borne diseases. They are all very dangerous and are accompanied by severe symptoms. Because the symptoms are so similar, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to recognize different diseases without laboratory tests. Although they have almost identical manifestations, it is essential to know how to distinguish them in order to proceed with adequate treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Learn about Malaria
Step 1. Know what causes it
Malaria is caused by plasmodium, a single-celled parasite that is often transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
- The parasite enters a person's circulatory system through the mosquito's saliva. It then travels to the liver where it matures and reproduces.
- When plasmodium evolves in the body, it infects red blood cells until they burst. Then new parasites develop from the red blood cells which spread and infect other red blood cells.
Step 2. Know the signs and symptoms
In most cases, malaria begins to manifest 8-25 days after the mosquito bite. However, those who have undergone prophylaxis (taking drugs to prevent infection) may have a longer incubation period.
- When infected red blood cells spread around the body, the cells eventually die.
- This can lead to liver infection.
- Sometimes infected red blood cells become "stickier" than usual and clot easily, thereby causing blood flow to the brain to stop.
- The severity of the signs and symptoms of malaria can depend on three factors: the type of malaria, the immune system, and the health of the spleen.
- There are 5 types of plasmodium: P. vivax, P. malaria, P. ovale, P. Falciparum, and P. Knowlesi.
Step 3. Look for signs of insufficiency in the spleen
The spleen is the "graveyard" of red blood cells.
- During a malarial infection, red blood cells die quickly and the spleen may not be able to handle the excessive amount of waste products leading to septicemia and organ failure.
- See if the spleen is enlarged; it can happen when it is overwhelmed by the amount of dead red blood cells and it enlarges unnaturally.
Step 4. Measure your body temperature to see if you have a high fever
This is a very common symptom in people with malaria.
- The temperature can even reach 40 ° C.
- Fever is a systemic immune response of the body, which works to suppress bacterial growth.
- It is often accompanied by chills, which allow the muscles to burn calories and raise body temperature. There may also be heavy sweating.
Step 5. Get a diagnosis
Since malaria has no specific symptoms, it can be more difficult to diagnose if it occurs in a country where it is not endemic such as Italy or Europe.
- Your doctor will evaluate your medical and travel history to find out if you went to a country where malaria is widespread.
- Get a physical exam. Although the reports may not be specific, they will still be used to make a preliminary diagnosis.
- Get a drop of blood drawn. The doctor takes a drop of blood and places it on a slide. The blood is treated to make the cells visible under a microscope. At this point the sample is analyzed to see if there are any visible plasmodium parasites. Two or more tests are needed over a 36-hour period to confirm malaria.
Part 2 of 4: Getting to know Dengue
Step 1. Know what causes dengue
There are four types of this virus and they all develop from the mosquito. Humans are the main host of the disease which is very common in tropical areas.
- When a mosquito is infected with the virus, it spreads it through saliva when it bites.
- This disease can also be transmitted from human to human. For example, infected blood used in a blood transfusion can spread dengue. Transmission may also be possible through organ donation or between mother and child.
Step 2. Recognize the signs and symptoms
The incubation period (before symptoms are visible) is approximately 3-14 days. Symptoms can vary, depending on the type of virus and the strength of your immune system.
- The virus circulates in the body after infection, attacking white blood cells and other antibodies, compromising the immune system.
- The virus further replicates inside the cells until they burst and die, releasing the cytokines that trigger the body's inflammatory response in an attempt to ward off the virus.
- The death of white blood cells triggers the leakage of other fluids from the cells, causing hypoproteinemia (a low protein level in the blood), hypoalbuminemia (low albumin), pleural effusion (fluid in the lungs), ascites (fluid in the stomach area), hypotension (low blood pressure), shock and eventually death.
Step 3. Measure the fever
The body raises the body's temperature in an attempt to eliminate the virus.
As with any other type of systemic infection, the body raises the temperature to kill the virus
Step 4. Pay attention to an intense headache
Most people with dengue report severe headaches.
- Its exact cause is unknown, but it is likely related to a high fever.
- An increase in body temperature can irritate the nerves in the head and cause excruciating pain.
Step 5. Notice if you feel pain behind your eyes
Dengue-related eye pain is often aggravated when there is strong light in the room.
- The pain appears dull and deep.
- Eye pain is a side effect of intense headache. Since the nerve endings in the head are located in the same area, pain can be felt not only in the head, but also in the eyes.
Step 6. Look for excessive bleeding
Diffuse bleeding can occur because the virus attacks the capillaries, the small blood vessels in the body.
- When the capillaries burst, blood leaks out of the blood system.
- Blood pressure drops as blood exits the circulatory system, causing internal bleeding, shock, and eventually death.
- In severe cases, bleeding is more common in the nose and gums, where the small blood vessels are located.
- Another symptom is the pulse that becomes weak due to the reduced volume of blood in the body.
Step 7. Keep an eye out for any rashes
As the fever subsides, rashes may begin to appear.
- The skin rash is reddish and similar to that of measles.
- The rash is due to the breaking of small capillaries.
Step 8. Know how dengue is diagnosed
Diagnosis is made through a physical exam, a history of the subject, and through laboratory tests.
- The doctor will try to identify the signs and symptoms of the disease. The place of residence will be taken into account, if it is an endemic area or if you have recently visited places at risk.
- Doctors may suspect dengue infection if they experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, enlarged liver, bleeding in the mouth, low platelet and white blood cell counts, restlessness, and decreased pulse.
- Your doctor may ask you to perform an ELISA test to identify immunoglobulins in the blood, which are specific to dengue infections.
Part 3 of 4: Getting to know Chikungunya
Step 1. Know the cause of chikungunya
This virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and was recently declared an emerging threat to global health.
- How the virus manages to affect the body is not yet clear, however, the symptoms and the evolution of the disease are almost identical to dengue.
- Chikungunya infects the muscle cells of the body. From there it reproduces until it kills them and then replicates by infecting a new host cell.
Step 2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of chikungunya
The incubation period is from 1 to 12 days. The virus usually attacks muscles, joints, skin, connective tissues, and even the central nervous system.
Step 3. Check for rashes and fever
Since chikungunya is a systemic infection, it is often accompanied by fever and skin rashes.
- The rashes are almost identical to those found in dengue and are the result of damage to the blood vessels.
- Fever occurs when the body raises its temperature in an attempt to kill the infectious agent.
- As a result of the fever, you may experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
Step 4. Take note of any muscle or joint pain
As the virus destroys muscle and joint cells, you may experience general muscle weakness and joint pain.
Joint and muscle pains can be severe and acute
Step 5. See if you lose your sense of taste
Many people with this infection experience a partial loss of taste.
This occurs because the virus attacks the nerve endings on the tongue and desensitizes the taste buds
Step 6. Get a diagnosis
It is very important to get an accurate diagnosis in order to find the right treatment.
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The most common test is to isolate the virus to obtain the conclusive diagnosis. However, it takes 1 to 2 weeks for the test to be completed and should be performed in a level 3 biosafety laboratory, which is not available in many developing countries, where chikungunya is widespread.
The technique involves acquiring a blood sample from the subject and introducing the virus into it. The sample is then observed to obtain specific responses
- RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) makes the chikungunya genes more pronounced and shows the signs of the disease. The result can be achieved in 1-2 days.
- The ELISA test measures immunoglobulin levels to identify the chikungunya virus. Results can be obtained within 2-3 days.
Part 4 of 4: Recognizing the Differences Between Malaria, Dengue and Chikungunya
Step 1. Know that the three diseases are transmitted by different types of mosquitoes
Dengue and chikungunya are usually transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Malaria, on the other hand, is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito
Step 2. Keep in mind that infectious agents are also different
Malaria is caused by Anopheles, which is a protozoan.
- Dengue and chikungunya are both viral infections.
- The first is caused by the dengue virus, while the second by Alphavirus.
Step 3. Observe the different incubation periods
Dengue has a shorter incubation period, usually 3 to 4 days.
- Chikungunya takes about 1 week for signs to be evident.
- Malaria takes at least 2 weeks to show symptoms.
Step 4. Pay attention to the differences in symptoms
The main differences between dengue and chikungunya can be seen in some signs and symptoms.
- The most obvious symptoms of dengue are low platelet counts, a high risk of bleeding and pain behind the eyes, unlike chikungunya which does not have these signs.
- Both dengue and chikungunya show joint pain, but in the case of chikungunya, joint pain and inflammation are more intense and pronounced.
- Malaria is best known for paroxysm, a continuous alternation of phases in which chills and tremors prevail and others in which fever and sweating are very pronounced. These cycles have a frequency of two days.
Step 5. Undergo several diagnostic tests to recognize the three diseases
Although the signs and symptoms can serve as rough guidelines for diagnosis, laboratory and diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the specific disease.
- Malaria is diagnosed with a blood smear.
- Dengue and chikungunya are diagnosed more easily through the ELISA test.
Warnings
- If you notice an alternation of intense fever that comes and goes, as well as muscle and joint pain, don't ignore them. See your doctor if your symptoms don't go away after 3 days.
- These are three diseases that can be deadly that are not promptly treated and cured by a doctor.
