“MUSKETTEERS: ALL AGAINST DENGUE!” – EXTENSION PROJECT

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dengue is an acute, febrile, infectious viral disease transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is primarily characterized by hyperthermia and symptoms such as headache, myalgia, and arthralgia. In 2024, 2 million probable cases and 682 deaths were recorded in Brazil due to the increase in cases. This alarming scenario is often exacerbated by factors such as heavy rainfall and high temperatures, which favor the proliferation of the mosquito vector. Furthermore, rapid and disorderly urbanization contributes to the expansion of mosquito-friendly habitats, facilitating the spread of dengue in tropical areas. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and map the highest levels and risks of death from this arbovirus. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological profile of dengue death cases in Brazil from 2018 to 2022, aiming to understand mortality patterns and identify risk factors. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive study of reported dengue death cases in Brazil from 2018 to 2022. The variables analyzed were year of notification, month of notification, sex, race/color, age group, education level, and state of residence. Data were obtained from TabNet (a generic public domain tabulator), which contains information from the Disease and Notification System (SINAN), available on the Unified Health System Database (DATASUS) website. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 2,032 dengue deaths were confirmed in Brazil from 2018 to 2022, with the highest incidence rate in 2022 (39.82%), with a higher concentration of cases from January to June (78.15%). The number of deaths was higher among males (52.32%), white (59.44%), aged 60 to 80 years (63.55%), with 4 to 7 years of schooling, and residing in the Southeast region (38.63%), followed by the Central-West region (30.12%). The increase in dengue deaths in 2022 is linked to the reproduction cycle of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, favored by heavy rains and high temperatures, which are striking climatic characteristics of the first months of the year in tropical regions. Elderly individuals aged 60 to 80 are the most affected due to weakened immune systems and comorbidities. At the same time, exponential and disorganized urbanization in the Southeast and Central-West regions contributes to the proliferation of the vector. Urgent control and prevention measures, including health education, are crucial to confronting and combating this alarming scenario. CONCLUSION: The highest incidence of dengue deaths is related to the breeding season of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, resulting in a consequent increase in cases. Furthermore, the number of cases is proportionally influenced by population density and the region's disorganized occupation, thus intensifying the need for health guidance actions for this population. Furthermore, gender and age were also identified as risk factors for dengue cases during the analyzed period.