Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, Brazil, 1981-2002.
In the last 5 years, Brazil has accounted for approximately 70% of reported dengue fever cases in the Americas. We analyzed trends of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) from the early 1980s to 2002 by using surveillance data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Two distinct epidemiologic patterns for dengue were observed: localized epidemics (1986-1993), and endemic and epidemic virus circulation countrywide (1994-2002). Currently, serotypes 1, 2, and 3 cocirculate in 22 of 27 states. Dengue and DHF affected mainly adults; however, an increase in occurrence of DHF among children has been recently detected in northern Brazil, which suggests a shift in the occurrence of severe disease to younger age groups. In 2002, hospitalizations increased, which points out the change in disease severity compared to that seen in the 1990s. We describe the epidemiology of dengue in Brazil, characterizing the changing patterns of it and DHF during the last 20 years.
Siqueira
João Bosco
JB
Ministry of Health, Quadra 4, Bloco N, 7o andar Sala 715, 70 070-040 Brasília, DF, Brazil. joao.siqueira@funasa.gov.br
Martelli
Celina Maria Turchi
CM
Coelho
Giovanini Evelim
GE
Simplicio
Ana Cristina da Rocha
AC
Hatch
Douglas L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology*