Bmany people which difficulty differentiate typhus and DHF because they are both instart with symptoms in the form of fever. Although the initial symptoms are the same, typhus and dengue are different diseases, both in terms of causes, treatment, and prevention.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites. While typhoid or typhoid fever is caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi, which is transmitted through food.
Although both are infectious diseases, typhoid and dengue need to be treated and prevented in different ways. In order to be able to distinguish between typhus and dengue fever, you need to first understand what are the differences in the symptoms of these two diseases.
Differences in Fever in Typhoid and DHF
Fever is an early symptom that appears in dengue and typhoid. Not only because of infection, fever or increased body temperature can also be caused by inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and even dehydration. Therefore, fever also needs to be distinguished based on its nature.
There is a slight difference in the pattern of fever in typhoid (typhoid fever) and dengue fever (DHF). Here is the explanation:
- Dengue fever or DHF is characterized by high fever (temperature between 39-40 degrees Celsius) that appears suddenly, fever can last up to seven days and occurs continuously.
- In typhoid, fever will appear gradually. When the initial symptoms appear, body temperature can be normal or low, then it will rise slowly every day, and can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
Differences in Typical Symptoms of Typhoid and DHF
In addition to the different fever patterns, there are characteristic symptoms that appear in each disease. Typical symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever are bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, longer or heavier periods, bloody stools, or vomiting blood.
Signs of bleeding in DHF can also be invisible, so the doctor or nurse needs to do a weir test using a blood pressure measuring device (tensimeter), to trigger bleeding on the skin in the form of red spots.
In contrast to dengue fever which is characterized by bleeding, typhoid is characterized by early symptoms in the form of digestive tract disorders, such as constipation or diarrhea, discomfort in the stomach, to abdominal pain.
Additional Examination for Typhoid and DHF
If you experience symptoms of typhoid or dengue fever, you need to consult a doctor. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and perform several supporting tests, such as blood tests, to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Complete blood count examination in patients with dengue fever is carried out to assess blood viscosity, the number of blood clotting cells (platelets or platelets), and the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Blood tests can be done regularly every day.
In contrast to dengue fever, blood tests for typhoid patients aim to see antibodies against bacteria Salmonellatyphi.
The treatment of these two diseases is also different. The main treatment for dengue fever is to meet the body's fluid needs, while typhoid requires antibiotics to eliminate the infection.
Steps to Prevent Typhoid and DHF
How to prevent typhoid and dengue fever are also different. To prevent dengue fever, you can install mosquito nets, use mosquito repellent lotion, diligently clean the environment, drain the bathtub, and close the water reservoir.
Meanwhile, efforts to prevent typhoid can be carried out by maintaining personal hygiene and food or drink intake, namely by washing hands before eating, washing food ingredients until clean, and consuming boiled water or bottled water that is guaranteed to be clean.
By knowing the difference between typhus and dengue fever, you are expected to be more aware of these two diseases, as well as perform early treatment and appropriate treatment.
But to be sure, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will provide appropriate treatment to overcome the disease you are suffering from and prevent complications that can be fatal.
Written by:
dr. Ida Bagus Aditya Nugraha, SpPD(Internal Medicine Specialist)
