World Malaria Day: Double attack of dengue and typhoid along with malaria increases the problem, becomes a challenge for doctors.

New Delhi. People often consider fever as normal malaria and neglect its treatment, but now this method is proving to be risky. Studies conducted in the hospitals of the capital have revealed that many patients are suffering from infections like dengue, chikungunya and typhoid along with malaria. This type of multi-infection has created a new challenge for the doctors, because if there is a delay in identifying the correct disease, the effect of the treatment also slows down. This conclusion has emerged from a study conducted at Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital.

Between July 2022 and November 2023, 4259 patients suffering from fever were tested. Of these, 87 patients (about 2.04%) were found malaria positive. The special thing is that in about 45 percent of these patients, co-infection of dengue, chikungunya or typhoid was also found. This complicates both diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections were recorded in the study.

According to the report, symptoms like chills (80.46%), jaundice (51.72%), muscle pain (56.32%), pain in the whole body (54.02%) and enlargement of liver and spleen (64.37%) were mainly seen in the patients. Anemia emerged as the biggest complication in some severe cases.

Identification of disease becomes a challenge

Experts say that when malaria occurs with other infections, the symptoms mix. This makes it difficult to identify the disease at the right time and treatment may be delayed. The risk of infection is highest between July and September and the risk has been found to be higher in men than in women.

Reason behind infection

In densely populated areas like Delhi, malaria, dengue and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes, while typhoid is linked to contaminated water and poor sanitation. In such a situation, it becomes difficult to identify these diseases separately at the clinical level, due to which many times more than one infection is present simultaneously.

Main symptoms-

High fever with chills and shivering
excessive sweating
headache and weakness
pain in muscles and joints
vomiting or nausea
loss of appetite
feeling dizzy or faint
In severe cases, jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)

Preventive measures-

use mosquito nets regularly
Do not allow water to accumulate around the house
wear full sleeves
If you have fever, contact your doctor immediately