Chikungunya and Dengue Fever are two ailments which bear a host of similarities with each other. In fact, the symptoms for both the diseases include:
There is no difference between Chikungunya and Dengue as far as the prevention from the disease and cure for both of them go. Over the counter, fever and pain-relieving medications are generally prescribed by doctors along with the advice to intake lots of fluids.
- High fever
- A headache
- Pain in the area behind the eyes
- Joint pain
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Nausea
| Criteria | Chikungunya | Dengue Fever |
| Virus carrier | Aedes aegypti, as well as Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, can both cause Chikungunya through their bite. | Dengue is caused only by the Aedes aegypti mosquito |
| Virus | Chikungunya is caused by the Togaviridae alphavirus | Dengue is caused by the Flaviviridae flavivirus. |
| The incubation period of the virus | It takes 1 -12 days for the symptoms to appear prominently | Dengue fever has a longer virus incubation period of 3-7 weeks |
| Duration of the condition | Chikungunya affliction stays for almost 1-2 weeks | Dengue fever stays for a longer duration of 4-7 weeks |
| Diagnosis of the disease | ELISA assay is used to measure the levels of immunoglobin in order to identify the chikungunya virus. | ELISA test is performed for detection of antibodies to Flaviviridae flavivirus. |
| Initial Symptoms | Fever, joint pain, headache, rashes are the first signs of the disease | Fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, eye infection rashes are the initial symptoms |
| Swelling | Mild swelling is there | More swelling is present than Chikungunya and it persists even after the fever has been cured. |
| Blood Platelet Count | Difference between Chikungunya and Dengue is characterized by the platelet count which is lower than 150,000 platelets per microliter of blood in case of Chikungunya. | Dengue Fever presents a platelet count that falls below 10,000 platelets per microliter of blood. |
| Body pain | Body pain is present | Body pain is there and the intensity is more than that of Chikungunya |
| Rash | A rash appears on the face, trunk, limbs, palms, and feet | Rashes are present on the face, hands, and legs |
| Joint pain | Extreme joint pain is there around hands and knees which may persist even after the patient is cured and all the other symptoms are gone. Many people suffer from a chronic joint pain after suffering from Chikungunya. | Joint pain occurs in knees and shoulders but it is not as high as in Chikungunya |
| Muscle Pain | Muscle pain is not present | There is muscle pain on the back side of the arms and legs. |
| Bleeding | There is no bleeding | In some cases of Dengue fever, the patient may experience bleeding especially in extreme cases of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever |
| Breathing problems | There is no breathing problem | Some patients may face breathing issues in Dengue |
| Neurological problems | Rare cases of Chikungunya develop neurological problems | This problem is not present in Dengue |
| Lymph nodes | Lymph nodes are normal | The lymph nodes in the neck and groin get enlarged |
| Fatality | One of the main points of difference between Chikungunya and Dengue Fever is the fatality. Chikungunya is rarely fatal. | Dengue fever can be fatal and the number of fatalities due to Dengue till date is much higher than that of Dengue. |
| Vaccines | No vaccine is available for Chikungunya | Some dengue vaccines are being tested but they have not been clinically approved as of now. |
| Home remedies | Ginger and green tea relieve the inflammation |
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