Assessment of the history of sequential dengue infection as risk or protective factors for severe forms of the disease

• Grant number: 24/05689-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Cássia Fernanda Estofolete
• Grantee: Tamires Nasie Abbas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Arboviruses still have a high prevalence throughout the world, especially in tropical countries such as Brazil. Considering its epidemiological importance, dengue is the most relevant arbovirus, being endemic and responsible for cyclical epidemics throughout the national territory. Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus composed of single-stranded RNA that has four distinct viral serotypes, DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4, responsible for causing infections of clinical spectrum and severity. varied. Each serotype is capable of triggering a specific immune response, but without generating prolonged cross-protection with the others. On the contrary, it is known that secondary infection with another serotype different from the primary infection results in an increase in the viral load, leading to an exacerbation of the condition. The studies produced so far have focused on the severity of the second infection, considering the third and fourth as more marks and the antibodies produced in them as protective. However, the literature lacks further information that delves into the interaction between the patients' serological profile, the frequency of different symptoms and the presence, or not, of severity in the third and fourth infections. That said, developing research in hyperendemic regions is favorable, since there is co-circulation of heterologous serotypes and a greater chance of contracting the disease repeatedly. The recurrence of dengue may contribute to more accurate analyzes of the symptomatic presentation of its post-secondary forms, allowing correlations with clinical results. And, given the above, it is clear that understanding more specifically how manifestations of this disease in different acute episodes can interfere both in the management of patients and in the creation of public health policies for the entire world.