Infants born to mothers with dengue infection at greater risk for health issues in early years

A recent study published in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics suggests that children born to women infected with the dengue virus during pregnancy are more likely to be born at a very or extremely low birth weight. This can have negative impacts on the health of these children for at least the first three years of their lives. Researchers from the University of Surrey and the University of Birmingham analyzed a large dataset on dengue-infected pregnant women and birth outcomes in southeastern Brazil.

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the world, with a significant rise in cases in recent years. In the Americas alone, there were over three million cases in 2023. Brazil has reported over 3.5 million cases since January 2024, making it the largest dengue outbreak on record. The newborns of women who had even mild dengue fever during pregnancy had a 67% and 133% greater risk of being classified as very and extremely low birth weight, respectively.

Children born to dengue-infected pregnant women were found to have a 27% higher risk of hospitalization from birth to 3 years of age, with a 76% increase in risk at 2 years of age. This highlights the long-lasting impact of dengue virus infection during pregnancy on the health of children in their early years.