Dengue Fever vs. Chikungunya: A Concise Comparison

2025-10-22

1. Core CharacteristicsDengue Fev

Dengue Fever: Caused by the dengue virus (4 serotypes), leading to symptoms like high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and potential bleeding complications.
Chikungunya: Caused by the chikungunya virus (1 serotype), characterized by sudden onset of fever and severe, persistent joint pain, especially in wrists and ankles.

2. Key Symptom Differences

Aspect	Dengue Fever	Chikungunya
Fever	High (39–40°C), lasting 3–7 days	Moderate to high, shorter duration (1–7 days)
Pain	Muscle pain, headache, bone pain	Severe joint pain, often chronic (months to years)
Rash	Red spots or bleeding points on limbs	Red patches on torso/limbs, may peel
Complications	Bleeding, shock, organ damage	Chronic arthritis, rarely life-threatening

3. Transmission & Prevention

Both are spread by Aedes mosquitoes (mainly Aedes aegyptiand Aedes albopictus), which breed in stagnant water and bite during daytime.
Prevention focuses on:

Eliminating stagnant water (e.g., flowerpot trays, discarded tires).
Using mosquito nets, screens, and repellents containing DEET.
Wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito activity (dawn/dusk).

4. Critical Notes

Dengue can be more severe upon reinfection with a different serotype due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE).
Chikungunya’s joint pain can persist for months, impacting mobility.
Seek medical help if symptoms appear after travel to endemic areas.

Takeaway: While both diseases share a mosquito vector, their symptoms and risks differ significantly. Prevention through mosquito control remains the best defense.

Dengue Fever vs. Chikungunya: A Concise Comparison

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Knowledge of Prevention and Control of Common Respiratory Infectious Diseases