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Due to this, there have been many cases where these patients present themselves to hospitals with almost the same kind of symptoms – fever, body ache, fatigue, making it very hard to differentiate between these diseases without proper testing. In this article, let us see how to understand the differences and what one needs to know in order to seek medical advice when required.
Symptoms Of H1N1 Swine Flu?
H1N1 swine flu is characterised by the presence of respiratory as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. However, unlike other strains of flu, H1N1 is more likely to cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in children. The presence of nasal discharge, loss of appetite and in certain cases, lower respiratory tract infection, is also common.
Differences Between H3N2?
H3N2 strain of influenza presents with sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, congestion and severe body aches, which may be followed by pronounced fatigue. Physicians have noticed that H3N2 hits people harder and faster than regular flu, with the rise in temperature occurring fast. Hence, people having worsening symptoms should not take this disease lightly, as in some cases, there could be dehydration and difficulty in breathing.
How Dengue Is Different?
Unlike the flu strains, dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes and not through respiratory droplets. The key characteristic of this disease is high fever along with severe joint pain, muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, skin rash and low platelet count. It has been clinically observed that the absence of skin rash and low platelet count can act as distinguishing factors between dengue fever and influenza-like illnesses. Additionally, time taken for visiting the doctor is another factor, as people tend to visit the doctor after a few days of infection due to dengue fever, while this duration is relatively less in case of a flu.
Should One Visit A Doctor?
As the similarities among these diseases are very high, doctors have suggested testing instead of trying to self-diagnose this disease. If the patient has fever, difficulty in breathing, vomiting continuously, body pain and unusual bleeding or bruising, then he or she must visit the doctor immediately, especially if the fever does not subside in 2-3 days. Vulnerable populations, such as children and elderly people, must not delay seeking medical advice.
Khushi Patel is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX, covering automotive, technology, Lifestyle, entertainment, and mainstream news. She previously worked as a Copy Editor at Times Network and has written automotive editorial content, including comparison pieces, for TimesDrive.
