The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially declared an outbreak of dengue fever in the Eastern Region, confirming a total of nine cases thus far.

This announcement was made in a statement signed by Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, following the detection of unusual malaria-like illnesses in select districts within the region.

Initially presenting as an acute febrile illness and not responding to standard antimalarial treatments, samples from affected patients were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for testing.

Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of dengue fever in these cases, which are currently being managed at home as non-severe instances.

In response to this concerning development, a collaborative team of entomologists and epidemiologists from the national level have joined regional efforts to conduct a thorough outbreak investigation.

Public health experts are diligently working to assess the scope and scale of the current dengue fever situation in the Eastern Region.

But how does dengue fever differ from malaria?

Health experts stress that understanding the symptoms of dengue fever and malaria is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

According to the WHO, while both diseases share several common symptoms, they also exhibit distinct characteristics that set them apart.

Common Symptoms

Both dengue fever and malaria often present high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and vomiting symptoms.

These overlapping symptoms can lead to initial confusion, particularly in regions where both diseases are prevalent.

Unique Symptoms

However, dengue fever tends to include additional symptoms not typically seen in malaria.

Patients with dengue may experience a skin rash, which often appears after the onset of fever.

They might also exhibit mild bleeding, such as nosebleeds or gum bleeding, particularly in cases that progress to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

Severe abdominal pain is another critical symptom associated with dengue.

In contrast, malaria symptoms can manifest in cyclical patterns, with patients experiencing cycles of chills followed by sweating.

Severe cases of malaria may lead to complications such as anaemia, jaundice, cerebral malaria, kidney failure, and respiratory distress.

Speaking to asaaseradio.com, Dr. Franklyn Asiedu Bekoe emphasised the importance of distinguishing between dengue fever and malaria, as they share overlapping symptoms but require different approaches for diagnosis and treatment.

“We have received reports of suspected cases recently and are currently running tests on samples in the lab. Some individuals can have the infection but show no symptoms. Others may exhibit typical malaria symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or headache. The key difference is that when you run a malaria test, it will be negative despite the symptoms,” he added.

Both dengue fever and malaria are mosquito-borne diseases.

Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, while malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.

Both conditions can lead to severe complications if not treated properly and may require significant public health interventions to control outbreaks.

Dr. Asiedu Bekoe noted that it is not unusual to have dengue cases in the country, stating, “We’ve had cases in the past, and our systems are equipped to detect such occurrences. We are awaiting the outcome of the tests to better understand the situation.”

According to the WHO, dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection common in warm, tropical climates.

It is caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses (serotypes) and can lead to a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from mild (often unnoticeable) to severe cases that require medical intervention and hospitalisation. In severe instances, fatalities can occur.

While there is no specific treatment for the infection itself, the symptoms can be effectively managed.

As the disease progresses, patients may also suffer from respiratory distress, bleeding from the nose and gums, and experience a rapid drop in blood pressure leading to shock.

If left unmanaged, this can lead to death.

Effective case management of dengue in hospitals has helped reduce case fatality rates to less than 1% in most affected countries.

Dengue is increasing at a higher rate than any other communicable disease, with a 400% rise over 13 years (2000–2013), the WHO has said.

Annual dengue incidence is estimated to be around 100 million symptomatic cases a year, with another approximately 300 million asymptomatic infections.

The greatest burden is seen in Asia (75%), followed by Latin America and Africa.

JKB/AE

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