It is difficult to Distinguish Chikungunya and Dengue based on clinical findings alone:
• Chikungunya and dengue viruses are transmitted by the same mosquitoes
• The viruses can circulate in the same area and cause occasional co-infections in the same patient
• Chikungunya virus more likely to cause high fever, severe polyarthralgia, arthritis, rash, and lymphopenia
• Dengue virus more likely to cause neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhage, shock, and death
• Patients with suspected chikungunya should be managed as dengue until dengue has been ruled out
• Proper clinical management of dengue reduces the risk of medical complications and death
• Aspirin and other NSAIDs can increase the risk of hemorrhage in patients with dengue
*Information from the Center for Disease Control Chikungunya Fact Sheet