Epidemiological Profile of Dengue Cases in Children Under 15 Years of Age in Brazil between 2020 and 2024

Abstract

Introduction: The viral disease transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, dengue, is characterized as a public health problem in Brazil¹. The country has an endemic pattern with seasonal outbreaks, especially in the summer, when climatic conditions favor the proliferation of the vector². In children under 15 years of age, the infection can be asymptomatic or manifest with high fever, headache, myalgia and rash, and may progress to severe forms³ Epidemiological analysis in this age group is essential to understand the dynamics of transmission and direct prevention strategies. Objective: To analyze the number of dengue cases in children under 15 years of age in Brazil from 2020 to 2024. Methods: This is a descriptive and quantitative study with secondary data collection in the System of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions (SINAN) in DATASUS. The variables federation unit, age group, year of processing, sex, and color/race were observed. Results: In the period, 1,722,824 cases of dengue in children under 15 years of age were recorded, with 2024 being the year with the highest incidence of infected people (992,186; 57.59%). Among the Federation Units, the Southeast region showed some importance, as 886,477 (51.45%) records occurred in this area. Regarding the age group, the most frequent are 10-14 (755,020; 43.82%) and 5-9 (588,531; 34.16%). Regarding gender, males had 924,912 (53.68%) patients and females had 795,513 (46.17%). In addition, white (677,613; 39.33%) and brown (662,888; 38.47%) people accounted for the majority of registered cases, but these data may be underreported, since 310,411 (18.01%) notifications are without color/race information. Conclusion: In the years 2020 to 2024, The epidemiological study in question shows that there is a high incidence of dengue in Brazil, especially in children under 15 years of age, with a notable increase in 2024, especially affecting the Southeast region of the country, with a focus on the age groups of 5 to 14 years. It is noted that there is a prevalence of cases among males and white and brown ethnicities, however, with the underreporting of cases, in addition to the lack of information on color and race, there is a need for improvement in data collection for a more accurate and detailed analysis. The findings presented reinforce that it is essential to intensify the protocols for protection and control of the disease, especially in the most favorable times for the proliferation of the vector, with the objective of reducing dengue cases in children under 15 years of age in the country.