A Review in the Field of Anti-viral Treatment for Dengue Virus Infection

Abstract

Each year, dengue virus infection imposes a significant global health burden, with approximately 390 million cases of dengue fever and thousands of reported annually, affecting millions of people who exhibit dengue virus symptoms (Tully & Griffiths, 2021). Despite extensive research, no specific antiviral treatment is currently approved for dengue virus infection. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of antiviral medications for dengue virus infection, focusing on approved drugs and investigational therapies. The review delves into each treatment's mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety profiles, and limitations, including small molecule inhibitors, immunomodulators, and therapeutic antibodies. Furthermore, emerging strategies such as host-targeted therapies and combination regimens are explored to enhance treatment effectiveness and mitigate the risk of drug resistance. In conclusion, the article discusses the challenges and future directions in developing effective antiviral therapies against dengue virus infection, underscoring the importance of sustained research efforts to address this pressing unmet medical need.