Increased Dengue Cases: Prevention, Vaccination & Treatment

Dengue cases are growing rapidly around the world; more than half of the global population is now under risk.

- Dr. A.K.Agarwal, Rajiv Singhal, S.K. Jindal, Dr. Sachin and Nishant Gupta

An estimated 100-400 million infections occur each year, but almost 80% remain asymptomatic. Dengue cases have increased about 8 times over the last two decades. Studies show only nine countries had severe dengue cases before 1970, but now it is endemic in more than 100 countries, especially in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific and the Americas.

Aedes aegypti (female mosquito) is responsible for the spread of dengue virus 4 serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4). Recovery from any serotype infection may provide lifelong immunity against that serotype (WHO).

Most Common Symptoms

Dengue is usually asymptomatic or mild in 80% of infected individuals. In symptomatic cases, high fever (104°F), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rashes on the skin are observed (WHO).

Vaccination

Vaccination against dengue has been neither popular nor very promising so far. Despite the first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) approval in ~20 countries. A clinical trial showed the participants who were inferred to be seronegative at the time of first vaccination had a higher risk of more severe dengue and hospitalizations from dengue compared to unvaccinated participants (WHO).