Rift valley fever differential diagnosis: Difference between revisions

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**A rash is seen on the chest, known as '''rose-spots''' in patients with Typhoid.
**A rash is seen on the chest, known as '''rose-spots''' in patients with Typhoid.
*[[Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever|Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever]]
*[[Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever|Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever]]
**It is a [[tick]]-borne [[viral disease]] of both [[wildlife|wild animals]] and  domestic animals, affecting humans.<ref>Lyme Disease Information for HealthCare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/healthcare/index.html Accessed on December 30, 2015</ref>
**The [[virus (biology)|virus]] belongs to the [[Bunyaviridae]] family, which is commonly found in Africa.
**Risk factors include handling body fluids of infected humans or animals.
*[[Ebola|Ebola]] virus disease
*[[Ebola|Ebola]] virus disease
*[[Dengue fever|Dengue]]
*[[Dengue fever|Dengue]]
**Patients with dengue also complain of [[Fever|fever]] but have greater joint pains than in [[Rift valley fever|Rift valley fever]].
**Patients with dengue also complain of [[Fever|fever]] but have greater joint pains than in [[Rift valley fever|Rift valley fever]].<ref>https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html</ref>
**A characteristic feature of dengue fever is '''retro-orbital pain'''.
**A characteristic feature of dengue fever is '''retro-orbital pain'''.
**Dengue has a longer incubation period of 7 days, followed by a week of '''febrile phase''', 1-2 days of the '''critical phase''' and 3-5 days of the '''recovery phase'''.
**Dengue has a longer incubation period of 7 days, followed by a week of '''febrile phase''', 1-2 days of the '''critical phase''' and 3-5 days of the '''recovery phase'''.
*[[Yellow fever|Yellow fever]]  
*[[Yellow fever|Yellow fever]]  
**It is a rare disease caused by [[Mosquito|mosquitos]] found in South America and Africa.
**It is a rare disease caused by [[Mosquito|mosquitos]] found in South America and Africa.<ref name =WHO2000>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/surveillance/WHO_Report_Infectious_Diseases.pdf |title=WHO Report on Global Surveillance of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases |accessdate=2007-06-11|author=Anker M, Schaaf D, ''et al''|date= 2000-01-07| |format=PDF |publisher=WHO |pages=11 }}</ref>
**There are vaccines for travelers traveling to these areas.
**There are vaccines for travelers traveling to these areas.
**The disease is usually a self limiting [[Fever|febrile]] illness but may lead to cardiac, renal and hepatic complications.
**The disease is usually a self limiting [[Fever|febrile]] illness but may lead to cardiac, renal and hepatic complications.
*[[Lassa fever|Lassa fever]]
*[[Lassa fever|Lassa fever]]
**The disease is usually seen in West Africa.
**The disease is usually seen in West Africa.<ref>Ogbu O, Ajuluchukwu E, Uneke CJ (2007). "Lassa fever in West African sub-region: an overview". Journal of vector borne diseases. 44 (1): 1–11. PMID 17378212</ref>
**It is transmitted by rats and risk factors include handling food materials infected with rat feces or contact with infected humans.
**It is transmitted by rats and risk factors include handling food materials infected with rat feces or contact with infected humans.
**The [[Incubation period|incubation period]] ranges from 2-21 days and most of the people do not report any symptoms.
**The [[Incubation period|incubation period]] ranges from 2-21 days and most of the people do not report any symptoms.
**Common symptoms are [[Fever|fever]], throat pain, [[Headache|headache]], swelling of the face, [[Nausea and vomiting|vomiting]] and [[Diarrhea|diarrhea]].
**Common symptoms are [[Fever|fever]], throat pain, [[Headache|headache]], swelling of the face, [[Nausea and vomiting|vomiting]] and [[Diarrhea|diarrhea]].
*[[Chikungunya|Chikungunya]]
*[[Chikungunya|Chikungunya]]
**It is caused by the [[Aedes aegypti|Aedes aegypti]] mosquito and is commonly seen in African and Asian countries.
**It is caused by the [[Aedes aegypti|Aedes aegypti]] mosquito and is commonly seen in African and Asian countries.<ref>Preparedness and response for Chikungunya virus introduction in the Americas. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. ISBN 978-92-75-11632-6</ref>
**The course of the disease is self limiting and involves [[Fever|fever]], [[Headache|headaches]] and generalized body pain.
**The course of the disease is self limiting and involves [[Fever|fever]], [[Headache|headaches]] and generalized body pain.
*[[Q fever|Q fever]]
*[[Q fever|Q fever]]
**'''Q fever''' is caused by [[infection]] by a bacteria called ''[[Coxiella burnetii]]''.
**'''Q fever''' is caused by [[infection]] by a bacteria called ''[[Coxiella burnetii]]''.<ref>https://www.cdc.gov/qfever/</ref>
**The [[Bacteria|bacteria]] is usually found in domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cats and [[Tick|ticks]] also.  
**The [[Bacteria|bacteria]] is usually found in domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cats and [[Tick|ticks]] also.  
**Risk factors include drinking raw milk, breathing in contaminated dust or droplets.
**Risk factors include drinking raw milk, breathing in contaminated dust or droplets.

Revision as of 15:19, 17 July 2021

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aakash Hans, MD[2]

Overview

The majority of differential diagnoses for Rift valley fever arise from other diseases which are prevalent in travelers and present with fever. All these disease would share a similar history of recent travel to an endemic area, followed by development of fever and body aches. A few of these diseases are listed below.

Differential Diagnosis

  • Malaria
    • The disease presents with fever like Rift valley fever, but the major difference is the pattern of fever in malaria. The fever recurs every 3-4 days in malaria while no such patterns are seen in RVF.
    • Malaria is common in African countries, so paying attention to the time and onset of fevers can be useful in distinguishing between the two diseases.
  • Typhoid fever
    • Typhoid usually has a pattern of step-ladder form of fever, meaning the temperature rises with each passing day.
    • The patient also complaints of bowel abnormalities along with fever. Individuals report either constipation or diarrhea along with fever.
    • A rash is seen on the chest, known as rose-spots in patients with Typhoid.
  • Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
    • It is a tick-borne viral disease of both wild animals and domestic animals, affecting humans.[1]
    • The virus belongs to the Bunyaviridae family, which is commonly found in Africa.
    • Risk factors include handling body fluids of infected humans or animals.
  • Ebola virus disease
  • Dengue
    • Patients with dengue also complain of fever but have greater joint pains than in Rift valley fever.[2]
    • A characteristic feature of dengue fever is retro-orbital pain.
    • Dengue has a longer incubation period of 7 days, followed by a week of febrile phase, 1-2 days of the critical phase and 3-5 days of the recovery phase.
  • Yellow fever
    • It is a rare disease caused by mosquitos found in South America and Africa.[3]
    • There are vaccines for travelers traveling to these areas.
    • The disease is usually a self limiting febrile illness but may lead to cardiac, renal and hepatic complications.
  • Lassa fever
    • The disease is usually seen in West Africa.[4]
    • It is transmitted by rats and risk factors include handling food materials infected with rat feces or contact with infected humans.
    • The incubation period ranges from 2-21 days and most of the people do not report any symptoms.
    • Common symptoms are fever, throat pain, headache, swelling of the face, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Chikungunya
    • It is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is commonly seen in African and Asian countries.[5]
    • The course of the disease is self limiting and involves fever, headaches and generalized body pain.
  • Q fever
    • Q fever is caused by infection by a bacteria called Coxiella burnetii.[6]
    • The bacteria is usually found in domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cats and ticks also.
    • Risk factors include drinking raw milk, breathing in contaminated dust or droplets.
    • Acute infection is characterised by fever, pneumonia and hepatitis. Chronic infections presents with cardiac, musculoskeletal or vascular symptoms.
  • Zika virus
  • Marburg virus disease

References

  1. Lyme Disease Information for HealthCare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/healthcare/index.html Accessed on December 30, 2015
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
  3. Anker M, Schaaf D; et al. (2000-01-07). "WHO Report on Global Surveillance of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases" (PDF). WHO. p. 11. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  4. Ogbu O, Ajuluchukwu E, Uneke CJ (2007). "Lassa fever in West African sub-region: an overview". Journal of vector borne diseases. 44 (1): 1–11. PMID 17378212
  5. Preparedness and response for Chikungunya virus introduction in the Americas. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. ISBN 978-92-75-11632-6
  6. https://www.cdc.gov/qfever/

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