Analysis of dengue cases in the year 2000, after the first recorded epidemic in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

In Amazonas, dengue is an endemic disease with epidemics that follow a cyclical pattern, alternating between periods of high and low incidence, influenced by factors such as the equatorial climate, population immunity, and vector control campaigns. Laboratory, clinical, and sociodemographic data from dengue cases that occurred in 2000, after the first epidemic recorded in Amazonas, were evaluated. A total of 1,214 blood samples were collected from patients with acute febrile syndrome and in the convalescent phase and analyzed for anti-dengue IgM antibodies using the MAC-ELISA test. Clinical and sociodemographic data were organized and analyzed using Excel. Of the samples analyzed, 655 tested positive for recent dengue infection, with a predominance of adults of both sexes presenting with nonspecific symptoms, residing in both urban and rural areas of Manaus and in 13 other municipalities. This study shows that even after major epidemics, the cyclical pattern of dengue transmission is maintained, affecting individuals of both sexes and all age groups, often with nonspecific symptoms. These findings reinforce the importance of continuous epidemiological surveillance and differential diagnosis, particularly in regions prone to outbreaks caused by emerging and reemerging viruses.