#Disease

Difference Between Malaria and Dengue

Ishita / 6 months
April 16, 2024
5 min read

Difference Between Malaria and Dengue

Malaria and dengue are both mosquito-borne diseases, but they are caused by different pathogens and have distinct symptoms, treatments, and preventive measures. The main difference between Malaria and Dengue is that Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In contrast, Dengue is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes.

Malaria symptoms typically include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Meanwhile Dengue symptoms usually include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain (known as “break-bone fever”), rash, and sometimes bleeding gums or nose bleeding.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Difference between Malaria and Dengue
What is Malaria?
What is Dengue?
Key Differences Between Malaria and Dengue

Difference Between Malaria and Dengue

For better clarity, here’s a tabular difference between these two diseases:

Here’s a tabular representation of the differences between Malaria and Dengue:

Feature	Malaria	Dengue
Causing Agent	Caused by Plasmodium parasites (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. knowlesi, P. ovale).	Caused by dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4).
Transmission	Transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.	Transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
Symptoms	Fever, chills, sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, fatigue. Severe cases can lead to organ failure, seizures, coma.	High fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, skin rash. Severe cases can cause bleeding, organ damage, and shock.
Incubation Period	7-30 days depending on the parasite species.	4-10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Typical Geographic Spread	More common in tropical regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.	Widespread in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.
Prevention	Use of insecticide-treated nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, prophylactic drugs.	Avoiding mosquito bites, use of mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing, eliminating standing water.
Treatment	Antimalarial drugs (e.g., artemisinin-based therapies, chloroquine).	No specific antiviral treatment; management focuses on relieving symptoms with rest, fluids, and pain relievers like acetaminophen. Severe cases require hospitalization.
Vaccine Availability	RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) is a vaccine for malaria, recommended for children in high-risk areas.	Dengvaxia is approved for individuals aged 9-45 years who have had a previous infection in endemic areas.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a serious disease caused by a tiny parasite called Plasmodium. These parasites are spread to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Category	Information
Causes	Infected mosquito bites inject malaria parasites into bloodstream Parasites travel to liver, multiply Parasites infect red blood cells after leaving the liver, causing symptoms
Symptoms	High fever with chills and sweating Headache Nausea and vomiting Muscle aches and fatigue Severe cases: organ failure, seizures, coma.
Effects	Life-threatening if not treated, especially in young children and pregnant women Causes anaemia and jaundice Repeated infections can lead to organ damage and impaired growth in children
Prevention	Use insecticide-treated mosquito nets Wear long-sleeved clothes and use repellents Take antimalarial medication in high-risk areas Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by draining standing water
Treatment	Treat with antimalarial drugs if diagnosed early Common medications: ACTs, chloroquine, others Severe cases may require hospitalization for IV treatment and supportive care

What is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection that is spread through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Category	Information
Causes	Four strains of the dengue virus: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4 All serotypes can cause a spectrum of illness, from mild dengue fever to severe dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome Transmission occurs when an infected mosquito bites and injects the virus into the bloodstream The virus spreads and multiplies in the body, leading to symptoms
Symptoms	High fever (up to 104°F or 40°C) Severe headache Pain behind the eyes Muscle and joint pain Nausea and vomiting Skin rash Severe cases: bleeding from nose, gums, or under the skin
Effects	Recovery typically within a week or two; some develop severe forms like dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome. Severe forms can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and plasma leakage, potentially life-threatening. Long-lasting fatigue and depression can occur.
Prevention	Avoid mosquito bites Use mosquito repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing, sleep under mosquito nets. Remove standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. Community efforts to control mosquito populations.
Vaccines	Dengvaxia (for individuals 9-45 years old who have had a previous dengue infection.)
Treatment	No specific antiviral treatment for dengue. Treatment focuses on symptom management and preventing complications. Recommended: rest, fluids, and acetaminophen for fever and pain. Severe cases: hospitalization for IV fluids, blood transfusions, and supportive care.

Key Differences Between Malaria and Dengue

Here are the key differences between these two diseases:

Malaria is caused by a parasite (Plasmodium) transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. In contrast, Dengue is caused by a virus (Dengue virus) transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
Malaria causes recurrent fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms but Dengue causes high fever, severe headache, muscle/joint pain, and sometimes a rash.
You can treat Malaria with antimalarial drugs however, there is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue; treatment is supportive.
Severe malaria can lead to organ failure and neurological complications. Meanwhile severe dengue can cause internal bleeding and plasma leakage (dengue haemorrhagic fever/shock syndrome).
Malaria is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia and the Americas. In contrast, Dengue is more common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially in urban areas.

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