Vector-borne diseases in childhood. Importance of their dissemination and impact on child health

Vector-borne diseases are a major global health problem. Individual vector-borne diseases such as malaria or dengue fever are among the most important infectious diseases in childhood. Overall, a spread of these diseases can already be observed as a result of climate changes. In particular, numerous arboviral infections have significantly spread in recent decades and are now also occurring as autochthonous infections in Europe. This makes preventive strategies, which include mosquito control, individual mosquito protection, immunization of reservoir hosts and vaccination of people in endangered areas, all the more relevant. Climate change and the associated spread of vector-borne diseases therefore represent one of the outstanding challenges for international child health in the coming years.