Dengue and leptospirosis are both infectious diseases. They both have a widespread distribution, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Moreover, coinfection of both dengue and leptospirosis is possible. Environmental factors such as rainfall may positively contribute to the development of dengue, leptospirosis, and their coinfection.
The key difference between dengue and leptospirosis is their cause. Dengue is an arthropod-born viral disease, while leptospirosis is a zoonotic-born spirochetes disease.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dengue
3. What is Leptospirosis
4. Similarities – Dengue and Leptospirosis
5. Dengue vs Leptospirosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Dengue and Leptospirosis
7. FAQ – Dengue and Leptospirosis
What is Dengue?
Dengue is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by closely related dengue viruses. It is more common in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, the Pacific islands, the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, and Central and South America. The symptoms of dengue may include sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and mild bleeding.
Dengue can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for dengue may include pain relieving with acetaminophen and avoiding medicines with aspirin, taking antiviral medications, rest, and drinking plenty of fluids.
What is Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria known as Leptospira. People can get it through direct contact with urine or reproductive fluids from infected animals, contact with contaminated water or soil, and eating or drinking contaminated food or water. This disease is more common in regions of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Latin America. The typical symptoms of leptospirosis may include high fever, red eyes, headaches, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, yellow skin or eyes, and rash.
Leptospirosis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, urine test, X-ray, CT scan, and DNA testing. Furthermore, treatment options for leptospirosis may include antibiotics directly through intravenously, mechanical ventilation, and plasmapheresis.
Similarities Between Dengue and Leptospirosis
- Dengue and leptospirosis are both infectious diseases.
- They both have a widespread distribution, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Co-infection of both dengue and leptospirosis is possible.
- Environmental factors such as rainfall may positively contribute to the development of both and their co-infection.
- Both may have similar symptoms, such as high fever, rash, etc.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and genetic testing.
- They can be treated by resting and taking specific medications.
Difference Between Dengue and Leptospirosis
Definition
- Dengue is a disease caused by closely related dengue viruses and is transmitted by mosquitoes.
- Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the Leptospira genus.
Prevalent Regions
- Dengue is common in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, southern China, Taiwan, the Pacific islands, the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, and Central and South America.
- Leptospirosis is found in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands, the Caribbean, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Latin America.
Transmission
- Dengue is transmitted through mosquito bites.
- Leptospirosis is transmitted through direct contact with urine or reproductive fluids from infected animals, as well as contact with contaminated water, soil, food, or water.
Symptoms
- Dengue can cause sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and mild bleeding.
- Leptospirosis can cause high fever, red eyes, headaches, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, yellow skin or eyes, and rash.
Diagnosis
- Dengue is diagnosed through a physical examination, blood test, and genetic testing.
- Leptospirosis is diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, urine test, X-ray, CT scan, and DNA testing.
Treatment
- Dengue treatment involves pain relief with acetaminophen, avoiding medicines containing aspirin, taking antiviral medications, resting, and drinking plenty of fluids.
- Leptospirosis treatment includes antibiotics administered intravenously, mechanical ventilation, and plasmapheresis.
The following table summarizes the difference between dengue and leptospirosis.
Summary – Dengue vs Leptospirosis
Dengue and leptospirosis are two infectious diseases that are commonly seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Both these diseases may have similar symptoms, such as high fever, rash, etc. However, dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by closely related dengue viruses, while leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria known as Leptospira. This summarizes the difference between dengue and leptospirosis.
FAQ: Dengue and Leptospirosis
1. How serious is the dengue virus?
- About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop severe dengue symptoms. Severe dengue can lead to shock, internal bleeding, and even death. Infants and pregnant women are at higher risk for developing severe dengue.
2. What are the warning signs and symptoms of dengue?
- Abdominal pain or tenderness, persistent vomiting, clinical fluid accumulation, mucosal bleeding, lethargy or restlessness, liver enlargement, laboratory increasing HCT (hemocrit) concurrent with a rapid decrease in platelet count.
3. What is the best treatment for dengue?
- No specific treatment for dengue fever exists. However, it can be managed by drinking plenty of fluids, taking pain relievers, and taking antiviral medications. Other complications should be managed in the hospital setups.
4. Who is most at risk for leptospirosis?
- People who are at high risk include farmers, mine workers, sewer workers, slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians and animal caretakers, fish workers, dairy farmers, and military personnel.
5. What is the treatment of leptospirosis?
- Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline or penicillin, which are given intravenously. They should be given early in the course of the disease. Other treatment options may include mechanical ventilation and plasmapheresis.
Reference:
1. Darvin Scott Smith, MD. “Dengue.” Medscape.
2. “Leptospirosis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Dengue mosquito” By Oregon State University (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “EID Leptospirosis AcsB 1” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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