Nutritional Influences on Pediatric Dengue Outcomes

This review aims to examine the relationship between nutritional status and dengue severity in pediatric populations, focusing on how malnutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies influence immune responses and disease outcomes. This review seeks to answer: How do specific nutritional factors modulate dengue pathogenesis, and what is their impact on clinical severity in children? Recent studies highlight a complex interplay between nutrition and dengue. Both undernutrition and obesity can alter immune responses, affecting susceptibility and disease progression. Micronutrients, including iron, vitamin D, and zinc, play critical roles in antiviral defense and inflammation modulation. Emerging evidence from observational studies, cohort analyses, and animal models suggests that nutritional status can influence platelet counts, cytokine responses, and overall disease severity. Nutritional status significantly modulates dengue outcomes in children. Both deficiencies and excesses may exacerbate disease severity. Future research should focus on mechanistic studies and targeted nutritional interventions to improve pediatric dengue management and prognosis.