Dengue in an elderly patient

Abstract

SUMMARYAlthough elderly populations are more exposed to the risk of getting dengue, the clinical peculiarities of this disease in this age range are not well known. This report is about an 80-year-old woman with dengue complications, self-medicated with salicylate. Literature indicates a more severe clinical condition, high hospitalization rate and significant mortality. This is caused by previous infections by other serotypes of this arbovirus, presence of chronic diseases, immunosenescence and high drug consumption, especially salicylates and the like. Analyses are required in a public health perspective in order to help health professionals that care for patients with dengue in this age range.

Clinical and laboratory profile of dengue in the elderly

“…To our knowledge, there have been very few studies done in the elderly regarding varied and myriad presentations and manifestations, especially ones comparing with a younger populations. [ 5 6 ]…”

“…Another possibility could be that older patients, due to their previous exposure and immunity to multiple prior dengue infections. [ 13 14 ] At the same time, studies from Latin America[ 6 15 ] have revealed a higher incidence of more serious clinical conditions, higher hospitalization rates, and significant mortality, primarily due to previous infections by other serotypes, presence of chronic diseases, immunosenescence, and high drug consumption.…”

The Early Clinical Features of Dengue in Adults: Challenges for Early Clinical Diagnosis

“…Our findings here indicate that while this is true for most age groups, caution needs to be exercised in older adults as the frequency of symptoms and signs in the WHO classification schemes reduced significantly with increasing age of infection. This would thus render the process of early diagnosis more difficult, as was suggested in a case report [41], thereby reducing the effectiveness of any antiviral intervention [6] when these become available.…”

Redes neurais artificiais aplicadas na correlação entre óbitos de dengue, automedicação e fatores abióticos em Goiânia-Goiás

“…Além dos fatores sócio demográficos e climáticos, diversas pesquisas mostraram que o uso irracional de medicamentos configura-se como um fator de risco associado aos óbitos decorrentes das complicações da dengue, como os quadros hemorrágicos [5,6,7]. Neste sentido, cabe uma avaliação quantitativa do risco em potencial associado a esta automedicação.…”

“…No Brasil, há registros da presença deste vírus no século XVI no período colonial e, a partir do século XX, o combate ao Aedes aegypti tornou-se sistematizado em todas as regiões brasileiras [3]. A ocorrência da dengue relaciona-se com o fenômeno da urbanização desordenada e das condições climáticas, tais como o índice de pluviosidade, a umidade relativa do ar e a temperatura que podem favorecer o desenvolvimento do vetor e criadouros [4].Além dos fatores sócio demográficos e climáticos, diversas pesquisas mostraram que o uso irracional de medicamentos configura-se como um fator de risco associado aos óbitos decorrentes das complicações da dengue, como os quadros hemorrágicos [5,6,7]. Neste sentido, cabe uma avaliação quantitativa do risco em potencial associado a esta automedicação.…”