The impact of COVID-19 on reported dengue cases among children aged 0 to 9 in Maranhão, from 2018 to 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is an arbovirus disease with a wide global distribution, with a higher incidence in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Maranhão. Objective: to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the notification of dengue cases in children aged 0 to 9 years in the state of Maranhão from 2018 to 2024. Methods: Observational, ecological study analyzing trends in the incidence of (new) dengue cases in the pediatric age group, encompassing the years of the pandemic, with secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Results: Between 2018 and 2024, dengue cases in Maranhão and Brazil showed significant variations. We observed a reduction in case notifications among children aged 0 to 9 years during the pandemic period COVID-19 (2020-2021), followed by a progressive increase in the post-pandemic period, reaching, in 2024, the highest number of child records in the proven series. In Maranhão, the trend was similar, with a decrease during the pandemic and a significant increase in the following years. At the national level, data reveal that cases in children exceeded 548,000 in 2024, and the total number of notifications in all ages reached approximately 6.4 million. These data highlight the impact of the pandemic on arbovirus surveillance and the need for special attention to children in dengue control policies. Conclusions: Given the dengue fever situation in Brazil, particularly in the state of Maranhão, specific and integrated public policies are needed, including active epidemiological surveillance, environmental control, health education, and increased vaccination coverage.