Published on Nov 05, 2020 and last reviewed on May 02, 2023 - 7 min read
Abstract
This article discusses the onset of disease, symptoms, complications, and warning signs to differentiate COVID-19 from various other seasonal co-infections.
Introductions:
COVID-19 and its variants have affected almost all countries in the world. With the symptoms of COVID-19 not being very specific and the prevalence of other seasonal infections every year, it is becoming a challenge to diagnose patients who present with influenza-like illnesses (ILI). Diseases like malaria, dengue, seasonal flu, chikungunya, leptospirosis, etc., can mimic COVID-19 or may coexist in patients affected by the coronavirus. This makes clinical and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 challenging and also affects the management and outcomes. This article will provide information on the signs and symptoms of various seasonal co-infections and ways to differentiate them from COVID-19.
COVID-19 patients may present with:
High fever.
Cough.
Tiredness.
The other symptoms include:
Chills.
Sore throat.
Runny nose.
Body pain and muscle aches.
Headache.
Chest pain.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis).
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
The symptoms are not very specific, and various other seasonal infections can mimic COVID-19. If a COVID-19 patient is co-infected with any other disease, he or she will still exhibit the same symptoms, which may lead to difficulty in diagnosis. Knowledge about the onset of disease, symptoms, complications, and warning signs can help differentiate COVID-19 from these infections.
The following co-infections should be suspected in moderate to severe COVID-19 cases if they are not responding to treatment:
1) Malaria - It is a life-threatening viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. This parasite gets released into the bloodstream when they bite. Once inside the body, these parasites reach the liver and mature. The mature parasites enter the bloodstream again and infect red blood cells. In two to three days, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply and destroy the cell. The parasites continuously infect other red blood cells and cause symptoms. It is common in tropical and subtropical climates.
Symptoms:
The symptoms develop within 10 to 14 days of the mosquito bite. The symptoms include -
Chills and tremors.
High fever.
Headache.
Vomiting and nausea.
Profuse sweating.
Stomach pain.
Diarrhea.
Anemia.
Muscular pain.
Convulsions.
Bloody stools.
Coma.
The warning signs of malaria include high-grade intermittent fever, tiredness, vomiting, and low urine output.
Complications:
2) Dengue - It is also a mosquito-borne viral infection, commonly seen in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. These viruses are spread to humans through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. Dengue fever is common in Southeast Asia.
Symptoms:
Usually, children and teens might not experience any symptoms during mild dengue fever. In case symptoms occur, they begin four to seven days after getting bitten by the infected mosquito. The signs and symptoms are -
High fever of 104 °F.
Bone, muscle, and joint pain.
Headache.
Nausea and vomiting.
Swollen lymph nodes.
Skin rashes.
Pain behind the eyes.
Sometimes, the blood vessels get damaged, and the platelet numbers fall, resulting in hemorrhage and is called dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome or severe dengue. The warning symptoms include -
Severe stomach pain.
Severe vomiting.
Nosebleeds and bleeding from gums.
Blood in vomit, stools, and urine.
Bruising.
Rapid breathing.
Complications:
3) Chikungunya - Chikungunya is also a viral infection transmitted by the same mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus, Aedes aegypti, and albopictus. They usually bite during the day and also at night. This infection should be suspected during monsoon in places where chikungunya endemics are common.
Symptoms:
The following symptoms of chikungunya generally begin in three to seven days after getting bitten by an infected mosquito -
Fever as high as 104 °F.
Joint and muscle pain.
Headaches.
Skin rashes.
Joint swelling.
Nausea and vomiting.
Conjunctivitis (rarely).
The warning signs of chikungunya are high fever with increasing joint and muscle pain.
Complications:
4) Seasonal Influenza - Infection with the influenza virus, most commonly with types A and B, results in seasonal influenza or the flu. The transmission occurs through infected droplets spread and touching infected surfaces, similar to COVID-19. As both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are Influenza-like Illness (ILI), patients with these symptoms should be evaluated for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.
Symptoms:
The onset of symptoms takes one to four days. The infected person exhibits -
Fever.
Cough.
Runny nose.
Sore throat.
Body pain.
Tiredness.
Headaches.
Complications:
5) Leptospirosis - It is a rare bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira. It is transmitted to humans when skin wounds are exposed to water or soil contaminated with infected animals' urine. It is commonly seen in tropical and subtropical countries and in both urban and rural settings, mostly during or after the monsoon.
Symptoms:
The following symptoms might take 2 to 26 days to be apparent -
High fever.
Chills or rigors.
Muscle pain.
Headaches.
Yellowish skin and sclera.
Red eyes.
Stomach pain.
Diarrhea.
Skin rashes.
Complications:
6) Scrub or Bush Typhus - It is a disease caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. The bacteria spread to humans through bites of infected larval mites (chiggers). This bacterial infection is prevalent in Southeast Asia, China, Indonesia, Japan, India, and northern Australia.
Symptoms:
People infected with this bacteria might show the following symptoms, approximately 10 days of being bitten -
High fever.
Chills.
Muscle and body pain.
Eschar - A dark lesion at the site of the bite.
Confusion.
Coma.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Skin rashes.
If left untreated, organ failure and internal bleeding can result in death.
7) Bacterial Co-Infections - Apart from these infections, patients with COVID-19 pneumonia can experience any secondary bacterial infection. So it is essential to test and treat all possible infections along with COVID-19 to improve the prognosis.
8) Enteric Fever- (Also known as typhoid or paratyphoid fever). It is caused by infection due to bacteria, namely Salmonella typhi, and Salmonella paratyphi. The infections are transmitted through contaminated food and water.
Symptoms:
Complications:
As the symptoms of the commonly occurring seasonal infections are so similar, the only certain way to differentiate them is by testing. The following signs might help differentiate the conditions to an extent.
Even though the preventive strategies of seasonal co-infections and COVID-19 are different, there is a synergy in the prevention of these diseases. Basic preventive measures for COVID-19 like getting vaccinated, maintaining physical distance, avoiding large gatherings, cough etiquette, and hand hygiene must be ensured at all times.
Vector control is needed to reduce mosquito breeding sites. The use of approved insect repellents is effective against vector-borne diseases, including scrub typhus. The preventive measure against leptospirosis includes wearing protective clothing for people at occupational risk, such as rice-paddy, sanitation workers, sugarcane workers, etc., and avoiding swimming in contaminated water. High-risk groups and all health care workers should be vaccinated for seasonal influenza. In addition, community support and awareness on COVID-19 and other seasonal diseases must be ensured.
Conclusion:
One or more infections can coexist in moderate to severely ill COVID-19 patients, which makes it crucial to differentiate and diagnose these conditions to prevent complications, including death. So, proper and reliable testing is needed.
For more information, consult a doctor online at iCliniq.com.
Viruses that cause colds and the flu typically cause them. However, it might also be a sign of COVID-19. Bronchitis can be brought on by coronaviruses and other viruses that affect the respiratory system. This can occasionally result in pneumonia, an infection of the lungs' small air sacs.
Children's illnesses like measles, diphtheria, chickenpox, fecal-oral infections like cholera and rotavirus, vector-borne illnesses like malaria, and even sexually transmitted gonorrhea are among the human diseases contagious throughout certain seasons.
Seasonal variations in the number of vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, snails, fleas, and flies, are well-known factors contributing to the seasonality of vector-borne diseases. Changes in weather and environmental conditions can impact the transmission and survival of pathogens. For instance, low humidity during the winter months can lead to dry nasal passages, making individuals more susceptible to respiratory infections.
Seasonal flu epidemics, sometimes known as the flu season, are caused by the influenza A and B viruses. Antigenic drift and antigenic shift are two different ways influenza viruses can alter.
Viral fever refers to acute viral illnesses brought on by environmental and seasonal variations. The most typical sign is an increase in the body's normal temperature. People of all ages may be affected by this during the monsoon. The virus raises the body temperature above normal.
Adenovirus can be transferred by droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Poop can spread infection through polluted water, filthy diapers, and inadequate hand washing. Adenovirus outbreaks at summer camps relate to tainted water in lakes and swimming pools.
Infections with microorganisms are the result. Viruses cause viral infections. Antibiotics do not treat viruses but kill or prevent many bacterial' growth. Some viruses are removed from the body by antiviral medications.
Rest and a lot of fluids are typical for a person to recover from the flu. However, if a person has a severe infection or is more likely to experience complications, the doctor may advise using an antiviral drug to treat the flu.
In a nutshell, allergens do not directly cause fevers. The body is likely fighting a viral or bacterial infection when a person has a fever. Because a fever is a symptom of a sinus infection, allergies can occasionally result in a sinus infection, which can then cause a fever.
Simple precautions like social distancing, wearing a mask at all times, and limiting travel can help people lower their risk of catching COVID-19. Emphasize the importance of frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water are not readily available. This helps to remove any potential virus on the hands.
The following activities aid in limiting the transmission of influenza, other coronaviruses, and COVID-19:
- When inside in public, put on a face mask.
- Keep a minimum of six feet distance between two people.
- Stay away from large crowds.
- Socializing outside.
- As soon as qualified, get vaccinated.
COVID-19 has significantly higher infectivity than Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The global spread of COVID-19 has also been substantially faster than other coronavirus infections.
Fever, exhaustion, and a dry cough are the most typical signs of COVID-19. In addition, aches and pains, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea can affect patients. Usually minor, these symptoms appear gradually. Some people contract an infection but do not show any signs of illness or discomfort.
Last reviewed at:
02 May 2023 - 7 min read
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