Asymptomatic Dengue and Silent Transmission

Abstract

With over 90% of infected proportions being asymptomatic to dengue, their possible contribution to silent transmission has generated much attention in epidemic and non-epidemic settings. The challenges in identifying the true asymptomatic representation, owing to no clinical symptoms, have limited scientific knowledge of the asymptomatic dengue, its viral kinetics, immune mechanisms and underlying protective mechanisms in action. The chapter gives an overview of dengue, and its asymptomatic counterparts. It elaborates on the current knowledge in immunity, and immunopathology in symptomatic cases and provides postulations on possible protective mechanisms responsible for the asymptomatic nature of individuals. The chapter further discusses the importance of identifying the asymptomatic proportion in a community and the challenges in diagnosis. It highlights the major role, that asymptomatic carriers play in silent transmission, and its implications and further discuss the possible measures to minimize the transmission risk.