Dengue care should be greater during pregnancy, warns Febasgo

Prevention

Pregnant and postpartum women are among the population groups most susceptible to complications from the disease

The odor and the increase in carbon dioxide exhaled by pregnant women’s skin, combined with the increase in their body temperature, are important factors in attracting the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Furthermore, pregnant and postpartum women are among the population groups most susceptible to complications and progression to the most serious forms of dengue.

The number of dengue cases in pregnant women increased by 345.2% in the first six weeks of this year, compared to the same period in 2023, according to epidemiological data from the Ministry of Health released this Friday (1).

Given this scenario, the Brazilian Federation of Obstetric Gynecology (Febasgo) launched the Manual for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Dengue in Pregnancy and the Postpartum period, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The guide was prepared by the Working Group dedicated to managing the disease in pregnant and postpartum women, made up of 16 specialists in obstetrics-gynecology and provides tips for avoiding contagion and preventing complications related to dengue.

“Once infected, pregnant women are more likely to experience unfavorable outcomes compared to non-pregnant women. Therefore, this group is of special interest and care”, explained doctor Antônio Braga, member of the Working Group on Dengue in Pregnancy at Febrasgo.

Prevention

Controlling Aedes aegypti breeding sites, mechanical barriers to prevent the mosquito from entering homes, such as screens on doors and windows, the use of insecticides, appropriate clothing and repellents are among the recommendations to prevent contamination. The use of insecticides through environmental vaporization, also called space fogging or fumigation, or at home, is also among the recommended measures.

According to Febrasgo, pregnant women should prioritize the use of repellents approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), such as picaridin, icaridin, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), IR 3535 or EBAAP.

Another important variable is the color preference to which the mosquito is attracted. Febrasgo recommends avoiding wearing red, blue, orange or black clothing. In turn, the white color does not attract mosquitoes.

Recommendations

In cases of less severe infection, the advice is to rest and increase fluid intake. Pregnant women with dengue require daily evaluation, including repeating blood counts within 48 hours after the fever disappears.

If the condition is serious, with alarm signs, hospitalization is indicated. In situations of shock, bleeding or severe organ dysfunction, the patient must receive treatment in an intensive care unit.

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