The recent spell of heavy rainfall across various parts of the country—particularly in North Indian states—has significantly heightened the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. The rain has led to waterlogging, creating conditions conducive to mosquito breeding. In light of this threat, health experts are advising the public to exercise greater caution regarding diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.

Alerts regarding these diseases have already been issued for several regions, including the capital, Delhi-NCR. A recent report published in *Amar Ujala* highlighted how the threat of dengue and malaria is prevalent across the country, from north to south.

During the monsoon and the period immediately following it, the onset of high fever, body aches, and weakness often leads people to immediately suspect dengue. However, such symptoms do not always indicate dengue; conditions resembling dengue are frequently observed in other diseases as well.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diseases such as chikungunya, malaria, typhoid, leptospirosis, and other infections can present symptoms similar to those of dengue. In many instances, the initial symptoms are so alike that accurately identifying the specific illness based solely on symptoms can be challenging.

This is why assuming it is dengue—or starting treatment without proper testing—when suffering from high fever can be harmful. Let us explore which other diseases can cause symptoms similar to dengue.

**Joint Pain is Also a Symptom of Chikungunya**

Both chikungunya and dengue are mosquito-borne diseases, and their early symptoms can be quite similar.

Chikungunya is characterized by high fever accompanied by severe joint pain and swelling; the joint pain can sometimes persist for a long period.
While body and muscle pain can occur in dengue as well, there are distinct differences in the signs associated with each disease. Issues such as a drop in platelet count and bleeding are commonly observed in dengue, whereas joint swelling is more frequently seen in chikungunya.

**Malaria and typhoid can also present symptoms similar to dengue**

Malaria can cause fever accompanied by chills, weakness, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle pain. It is diagnosed by testing the blood for the presence of parasites.
Typhoid is characterized by prolonged fever, abdominal pain, and, in some cases, skin rashes. All these symptoms resemble those of dengue.

It is important to note that dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, whereas typhoid is caused by the *Salmonella typhi* bacterium, which spreads primarily through contaminated water and unhygienic food.

**Leptospirosis**

Symptoms similar to dengue can also appear in cases of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that spreads to humans and animals through contaminated water or soil. Like dengue, it can present with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and redness of the eyes. Therefore, one should not start medication for dengue based solely on the presence of fever.

**When should you see a doctor?**

You should be alert if high fever is accompanied by persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or extreme weakness. Additionally, if there is difficulty breathing, fainting, or confusion, one should not dismiss it as a common fever and wait at home.

A blood test is essential to diagnose dengue. In some cases, co-infections can occur; for instance, a person can suffer from both dengue and malaria simultaneously.

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