Dengue and chikungunya: A review

Background: Arboviruses are characterized by a clustering of viral diseases, infected by vectors (viruses transmitted by arthropods). The designation of arboviruses is not only being used for its dissemination through arthropods, but is subject to its reproductive cycle that occurs in insects. In Brazil, among the most frequently expressed arboviruses are Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. The emergence of arboviruses has raised concerns about the main causes of their emergence and the need to develop prevention and control programs. Objective: To demonstrate the importance of the Dengue fever and Chikungunya clinical and epidemiological situation in Brazil and how this factor increase the interest in seeking means of prevention and control. Methods: Criteria for eligibility and synthesis were based on systematic reviews of intervention research, and did not include narrative reviews, overviews, trials and meta-analyzes. Systematic search strategies were used in two electronic databases Scielo and Google Scholar. Results: Dengue fever cases reported in Brazil reach approximately 700,000 cases, decreasing considerably in 2003 and 2004, increasing again in 2005. Chikungunya cases reported by the Ministry of Health are about 9,084 autochthonous suspect cases and 3,554 unconfirmed cases. Conclusion: The scientific community and the health services should act directly with the identification of transmission patterns and the impacts of these arboviruses in Brazil, contributing with proposals to control this significant emerging challenge.