infections
Dengue
Prevention of Dengue
People who live in areas where dengue is common should try to prevent mosquito bites. To prevent mosquito bites, people should take the following precautions: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Stay in places that have air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out. Sleep under a mosquito net in places that are not adequately screened or air-conditioned. Use strong insect repellents—those with ingredients such as DEET (diethyltoluamide) or other approved active ingredients—on exposed skin surfaces. Treat clothing and gear withpermethrininsecticide (do not apply it directly to the skin). People who have dengue are kept under mosquito netting until the second bout of fever resolves. This measure helps prevent further spread of the infection by mosquitoes. For children, the following precautions are recommended: Do not use insect repellent on infants under 2 months old. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (para-menthane-diol) on children under 3 years old. For older children, adults should spray repellent on their own hands and then apply it to the children's skin. Dress children in clothing that covers their arms and legs, or cover the crib, stroller, or baby carrier with mosquito netting. Do not apply insect repellent to the hands, eyes, mouth, or cut or irritated skin of children. In the United States, the dengue vaccine CYD-TDV is approved for use in children and adolescents 9 to 16 years of age who have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue virus infection and are living in an area where dengue is endemic. The vaccine is also available in Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, and some other countries. Vaccinating people who previously had a mild case of dengue reduces their risk of developing the severe form of the disease (dengue hemorrhagic fever) if they are infected again. However, vaccinating people who never had dengue appears to increase their risk of more severe disease if they are infected with dengue later. Thus, doctors prefer to use the vaccine only in people who have previously had dengue. However, in many countries where dengue is common, it is not always possible for doctors to do a dengue blood test before they give the vaccine. Another dengue vaccine (TAK-003) is being evaluated in the United States and is already approved for use in Indonesia, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. This vaccine can be used for individuals who have not had prior dengue infections as well as those who have. Several other dengue vaccines are under investigation. 