Epidemiologist Mirna Jimenez of the Hugo Mendoza Pediatric Hospital is advising people to get tested for dengue fever before self-diagnosing the chikungunya virus. Chikungunya, which is now widespread in the country, can usually be treated with rehydration and bed rest and most sufferers do not need to be seen by a doctor. Many people are known to have experienced mild cases of the virus, attributed to stronger immune systems. Nevertheless, Dr. Jimenez says that symptoms of dengue and chikungunya are very similar, but dengue must be treated by a doctor as it is a more serious illness.
She also advised doctors to follow the Clinical Management Guide for Chikungunya distributed by the Ministry of Public Health. “The problem is that we often get carried away because what is prevailing now is chikungunya, forgetting there are other endemic diseases such as dengue also carried by mosquitos,” she said.
She said that platelet counts will be low in both, but much lower in dengue. The manual helps doctors distinguish between both viruses and how to treat them.
Fellow epidemiologist Mercedes Castro also advised people with fever symptoms to see their doctors to confirm which illness they have.