Update on the similarities and differences between dengue and COVID-19

Abstract

The coexistence of COVID-19 and dengue forces doctors and other health personnel to know their particularities, in order to make a differential diagnosis. They are viral diseases that produce fever, general affectations, anorexia, headache and sometimes some digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The purpose of this work is to update the knowledge on both diseases based on their similarities and differences. The new coronavirus causes coughing and other respiratory symptoms, which is not common in dengue, but it can also produce them. Anosmia and hypogeusia are characteristic of the COVID-19, but some dengue sufferers report not finding the taste of food. Epidemiological inquiry is essential for diagnosis, but polymerase chain reaction testing is essential for confirmation, although other studies are useful. Both have a febrile and a critical period and it is the multisystem inflammatory syndrome the severe form of COVID-19, and the hypovolemic shock the severe form of dengue. They do not have a recognized antiviral drug but various treatments aimed to the host mainly. Dengue does not yet have an effective vaccine as they exist for the new coronavirus, among them, the Cuban ones called Soberana 2 and Abdala. The greatest similarity of both diseases lies in the need to educate health personnel and all the population in their knowledge and management. Avoiding contagion is the best prevention in the case of COVID-19 and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites is essential to avoid dengue epidemics.