Dengue fever: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies

Abstract

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, is rapidly increasing worldwide and affects over half of the world’s population in at-risk areas. Factors such as globalization, urbanization, and climate change have fueled its rapid geographical expansion. Although no indigenous dengue cases have been identified in Korea, the number of imported dengue cases has increased from travel to endemic regions. In Korea, dengue diagnosis relies mainly on detecting antidengue antibodies or viral nucleic acids using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Although specific antiviral treatments for dengue are currently unavailable, promising progress has been made in developing antiviral agents that target viral replication. Single-dose tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccine candidates are currently being evaluated for their safety and efficacy. Innovative vector control methods, including Wolbachia-infected and genetically modified species of Aedes mosquitos, have demonstrated promising results. Owing to the limited therapeutic options, vector control strategies remain a primary focus for preventing transmission, alongside ongoing research on antiviral drugs and vaccine development. This review provides insight into dengue fever transmission, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis. Additionally, it covers current global control measures, emerging treatment options, and the status of vaccines in development.