Dengue in children

Lilly M Verhagen1, Ronald de Groot1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

The Journal of Infection
|September 17, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral illness, disproportionately affects children, with severe cases often linked to secondary infections. Current management focuses on supportive care and monitoring, as effective antiviral treatments are unavailable.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease with increasing global incidence and geographical spread.
  • Children under 15 represent the majority of dengue cases, with infants and those experiencing secondary infections being most vulnerable to severe outcomes.
  • The disease spectrum ranges from mild febrile illness to severe dengue with plasma leakage and shock.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of dengue in pediatric populations.
  • To cover clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and prevention methods for dengue in children.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on dengue in children.
  • Information is drawn from existing literature on clinical presentations, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic interventions.
  • Focus is placed on epidemiological trends and public health priorities, including vaccine development.

Main Results:

  • Early diagnosis within five days of onset is possible through viral component detection; serologic tests are used later.
  • No specific antiviral therapies exist; management is supportive, involving hematological monitoring and fluid replacement.
  • Secondary heterologous dengue infections significantly increase the risk of severe disease in infants and children.

Conclusions:

  • Dengue poses a significant public health challenge, particularly for children.
  • Effective management relies on early detection, supportive care, and vigilant monitoring for warning signs of severe disease.
  • Development of a safe and effective dengue vaccine is a critical priority for both endemic regions and travelers.

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