Many dengue patients are showing symptoms that are identical to COVID-19 as dengue cases increase around the national capital. Concerning the exact diagnosis, this is greatly confusing for both patients and doctors.
The incidence of vector-borne diseases is surging dramatically as the monsoon season approaches. The mosquito that spreads the disease finds steady water in populated areas to be an ideal environment for reproducing. Therefore, there are more occurrences than typical between July and November, and occasionally even in December.
What are the common symptoms between Dengue and Covid-19?
High fever, headache, rash, and discomfort in the muscles and joints are among the symptoms of dengue, which are also quite similar to those of COVID-19 infection. Among other symptoms, COVID-19 includes fever, chills, body aches, weariness, and headache. It becomes challenging for the doctors in these situations to determine if the patient is COVID positive or not.
According to Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, a senior consultant at Apollo Hospitals, "Covid cases are declining right now, but the virus is still there. I am still seeing Covid cases in my OPD. In the last 3-4 days, two cases were detected in OPD and one later in an ICU. However, on average, dengue infection is on the rise right now."
"Fever, bodily aches, and headache are a few symptoms that both dengue and covid share, therefore a diagnosis cannot always be made with such certainty in such circumstances. In order to determine the precise infection, we are therefore recommending both Covid and dengue testing. In some instances, testing for typhoid and malaria are also conducted," Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee was informed.
How to know whether it’s Covid-19 or dengue?
Between the lines of the symptoms that patients report there lies a trap for the doctors. According to Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, there is a likelihood that a person has the COVID-19 virus if they have a persistent sore throat and cough without a high fever. The patient does not need a dengue test when the doctor can tell the difference based on the symptoms.
Doctors at government and private hospitals have seen an increase in the number of dengue patients visiting OPDs during the previous few days. The majority of them, according to doctors, are complaining of fever, cough, sore throat, bodily discomfort or headache, and occasionally both.
A decrease in platelet and white blood cell counts can result from dengue illness. A healthy person's body typically maintains a platelet count between 1.5 to 4 lacs. In the case of dengue patients, the number can drop as low as 20,000 to 40,000.
