Dengue and the Elderly: A Growing Health Puzzle

Dengue fever is becoming a bigger problem worldwide, especially for older folks. The number of people getting sick from it has been going up, and more of them are over 65. This age group faces tougher challenges when dealing with the disease.

Why Older Adults Are at Risk

• Weaker Immune Systems: Their immune systems aren't as strong.
• Other Health Issues: They often have other health problems, making dengue more severe.

Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges

Older adults with dengue may not show typical symptoms, making it harder to diagnose. This delay can lead to:

• Longer hospital stays
• Higher chances of death

Currently, there are no special tests to predict how severe the disease will be, and no specific medicines to treat it. Doctors have to consider the patient's age when managing the illness.

Research and Future Solutions

Researchers are looking into new treatments that might help:

• Control the immune response
• Fight the virus directly

However, there's still a lot we don't know, especially about how well vaccines work for older adults.

The Growing Challenge

With more people living longer worldwide, dengue in the elderly is becoming a pressing issue. We need clear, practical guidelines to help doctors handle this growing challenge.