A REVIEW: MISINTERPRETATION AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN DIFFERENTIATING DENGUE AND MALARIA

Abstract

Malaria and dengue are both endemic vector-borne diseases. Malaria is a protozoal disease, whereas dengue is a viral disease; both are transmitted through mosquito bites. Malaria is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes that carry Plasmodium species, of which four species P. vivax, P.ovale, P.malariae, and P. falciparum and a fifth species, P.knowlesi, is also a human pathogen but is less well known, whereas dengue is transmitted through female Aedesegypti mosquitoes, which carry flavivirus serotypes DENV-1 to DENV-4.
Although malaria and dengue are treatable but due to misinterpretation, misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, self-medication, lack of awareness, false results, knowledge gaps among individuals, myths or beliefs, and increasing drug resistance may worsen the condition and make both diseases life-threatening.