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. 2020;156(5):460-464.
doi: 10.24875/GMM.M20000449.

Risk of a syndemic between COVID-19 and dengue fever in southern Mexico

Juan P Sánchez-de la Cruz  1 , Carlos A Tovilla-Zárate  1 , Diana L González-Morales  1 , Thelma B González-Castro  2
Affiliations
Free article

Risk of a syndemic between COVID-19 and dengue fever in southern Mexico

Juan P Sánchez-de la Cruz et al. Gac Med Mex. 2020.
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

A syndemic is the convergence of two or more diseases in the same space and time. In Mexico, the dengue epidemic is active and predominates in areas of the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico; in turn, the COVID-19 epidemic severely affects the same areas as dengue fever. Given that both these diseases share many clinical manifestations, in areas where tropical diseases are endemic, it is important to make careful evaluations of the patient who consults for fever in order to establish a timely diagnosis. Laboratory diagnostic tests are necessary to take the pertinent measures for each patient. In Mexico, the risk of a syndemic between COVID-19 and dengue fever is high, and thus it that can collapse health systems. The states of southeastern Mexico and the Pacific region require special attention, since they have geographic, environmental and climatic conditions that favor the rapid spread of dengue and COVID-19. Simultaneous infection will worsen the epidemiological situation, and complicate the diagnosis, control and treatment of both diseases.

Una sindemia es la convergencia de dos o más enfermedades en un mismo espacio y tiempo. En México, la epidemia de dengue está activa y predomina en zonas del Pacífico y Golfo de México; por su parte, la epidemia de COVID-19 afecta severamente las mismas zonas que el dengue. Dado que estas enfermedades comparten numerosas manifestaciones clínicas, en zonas endémicas de enfermedades tropicales es importante la evaluación minuciosa del paciente que consulta por fiebre, para establecer oportunamente un diagnóstico correcto. Las pruebas de laboratorio son necesarias para llevar a cabo las medidas pertinentes en cada paciente. En México, el riesgo de sindemia de COVID-19 y dengue es alto, por lo que puede colapsar los sistemas de salud. Los estados del sureste y los colindantes con el Pacífico requieren especial atención ya que presentan condiciones geográficas, ambientales y climáticas que favorecen la rápida propagación del dengue y COVID-19. La infección simultánea empeorará la situación epidemiológica, complicará el diagnóstico, control y tratamiento de ambas enfermedades.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dengue; Epidemia; Epidemic; Golfo de México; Gulf of Mexico; Sindemia; Syndemic.

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