At a time when the news about covid-19 is spreading like wildfire, it is quite easy to forget about the other diseases that are plaguing the human population.
Diseases like dengue and malaria are continuing to grow and having a worse impact than one can imagine! Unfortunately, diseases like these aren’t going to just fade out at our own convenience. Hence, you must determine when you should be visiting a dengue specialist doctor in Kolkata.
A brief know-how
Like many parts of the world, India has taken strict measures to minimize the risk of these diseases and has been quite successful till now. The success streak of malaria is commendable but, dengue continues to grow at an alarming rate with every year causing numerous facilities across the state.
Are dengue and malaria the same?
Understand this basic difference –
Malaria is caused by plasmodium; a parasite that is transmitted through the bite of a female anopheles mosquito. It is caused mainly from two types of malaria parasites – Plasmodium Falciparum & Plasmodium Vivax. On average you would see the symptoms of malaria lasting between 8 to 25 days after the bite.
On the other hand –
Dengue is also transmitted by mosquito bites but it is from an Aedes mosquito. Here it is no parasite but the Dengue virus (DENV) that is spread through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
Take a look at the difference in symptoms and signs of malaria and dengue
Although both of these diseases are mosquito-borne yet, there are a number of fundamental differences between those two!
Symptoms of dengue –
Dengue shows a typical sign of high fever along with signs of fatigue and nausea. There are other symptoms as well like –
- Rashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle and joint pain
Dengue can be life-threatening as it drops the WBC and platelet count from 2 to 4 lakhs to as low as 10 to 15 thousand. This is the very reason why the dengue virus can cause intense damage to the bone marrow.
Upon the first warning signs such as intense recurring headaches and gnawing pain could all be the result of internal bleeding due to capillary burst. You must visit a dengue specialist in Kolkata like, Dr. Amitabha Saha upon noticing the first signs of the disease.
Symptoms of malaria –
Malaria typically exhibit symptoms like –
- Acute headaches
- Fever accompanied by chills
- Muscular pain
- Signs of fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
To prevent the escalation of malaria you should look out for the following changes:
- If you have been infected with malaria, the RBC will rapidly die leading to enlargement of spleen (in chronic cases).
- Always track the temperature. If it rises beyond 38.8 degrees Fahrenheit along with chills and sweating – visit the best doctor for malaria without further delay. In view of the current scenario, fever could also be a sign of Covid-19 infection and hence, on noticing the slightest symptoms, consult covid doctors in Kolkata right away.
- Watch out for the changes in your spleen as you will experience symptoms like pain in your upper left abdomen, frequent fatigue, and other infections, feeling full even when skipping meals, etc.
Under all of the above symptoms, seeking medical help is a MUST.
Does the treatment differ in the case of dengue and malaria?
Treatment for both the cases (dengue & malaria) differs as per the severity of the infection and drug resistance pattern of the particular region.
Patients with a severe case of malaria could require a continuous intravenous infusion. On the other hand, the effects of dengue are far more difficult to cure but it can be controlled to a great extent with the combination of medicines and intravenous infusion.
The doctor might also put you under the continuous monitor of your blood pressure and blood transfusion if you are suffering from a significant blood loss. However, there is no reason to panic!
Most patients recover from dengue and malaria with the proper administration of prescribed drugs, and from complete bed rest. In the time of the covid-19 pandemic, you must not rule out the risk factors like staying in unhygienic neighborhoods or getting yourself exposed to the virus especially in the tropical monsoons.
Under no circumstances should you allow stagnated water at your home or neighborhood. You must also make sure to use mosquito nets and repellents at all times if you reside in a mosquito-prone area. Along with this, always consume hygienic food and cover the day-to-day food items at all times.
Keep a note –
Especially in cities like Kolkata, where waterlogging is a perennial threat, you must follow these measures to minimize the risk of contracting these life-threatening diseases.
The bottom line
Always remember that there is danger even from one bite and it is enough to threaten a healthy person’s life. Even in times of crisis, you must always keep in mind that immediate and expert medical attention is required for speedy diagnosis and treatment of these dangerous diseases.