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Female mosquitoes transmit both malaria and dengue fever, which cause severe illness in humans.

Given some similarities, the two diseases, and mosquito species, are often confused by patients and medical personnel.

As a result, “misdiagnosis between malaria and dengue is common,” says Dr. Charles Guissou, co-principal investigator for Target Malaria at the National Health Sciences Research Institute in Burkina Faso. 

It can contribute to inappropriate medical care, he said on Monday, August 19, ahead of the World Mosquito Day Marked on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

Globally, there are 200 million cases of malaria each year, leading to 600,000 deaths. 

However, most of these deaths happen in Africa where children and pregnant women pay the highest price. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that, in 2022, Africa was home to 94% of malaria cases (233 million) and 95% (580 000) of malaria deaths. 

Children under five accounted for about 78% of all malaria deaths.

On the other hand, the global incidence of dengue fever has grown significantly in recent decades. Cases reported to WHO increased from 505,430 in 2000 to 6.5 million in 2023.

Dr. Guissou states that dengue fever and malaria are two very different diseases caused by different pathogens and different mosquito species.

Field Entomology Coordinator for Target Malaria at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Krystal Birungi, explains that the dark-coloured Anopheles mosquito transmits malaria, and the Aedes mosquito whose wings have distinctive white markings carries the dengue virus.

She says malaria and dengue fever should be distinguished from each other so that adequate prevention and treatments can occur.

Adding that the risk of potential infections is staggering. “Approximately 3.9 billion people are at risk of dengue fever and 3.3 billion people of malaria infections,” she says.

So how can someone differentiate between dengue fever and malaria?

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus while malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite, states Target Malaria a not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission.

It says the Aedes mosquitoes that cause dengue fever are daytime biters and will usually bite in the early morning or late afternoon whereas Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria are nighttime biters and will usually bite in the evening or later at night.

Aedes mosquitoes can live in, or near homes, or in neighbouring woods and prefer to live outdoors they also tend to prefer urban areas whereas Anopheles mosquitoes are generally attracted to dark, sheltered areas for resting during the daytime.

They also tend to prefer rural areas, except for Anopheles Stephensi which is spreading to more urban areas.

The most common symptom of dengue is a high fever along with nausea, vomiting, rash, headache, and body aches.

And if symptoms occur, they usually begin four to 10 days after infection, and last for two to seven days whereas the most common early symptoms of malaria are fever, headache and chills. Symptoms usually start within 10 to 15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito.