These two studies, conducted across 10 countries
in which dengue is endemic, were similarly
designed and used the same methods and case
definitions, which enabled the capture of data
regarding symptomatic dengue episodes as well
as comparisons across countries, regions, and
age groups. We found that dengue-specific burdens
varied extensively within each geographic
region and that all pediatric age groups were
affected.
The overall incidences of febrile episodes varied
according to country and decreased with
increasing age. Although the overall incidence
appeared to be higher in the Asian cohort than
in the Latin American cohort, this disparity was
probably due in part to the younger age range of
the participants included in this cohort, among
whom the incidence of acute febrile disease is
expected to be higher.23,24 The similar overall
incidence in the comparable age groups (9 to 12
years of age and 13 to 16 years of age) suggests
that the burden of febrile disease among children
9 to 16 years of age was similar in the two
cohorts.
We found