EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES FACED IN A DENGUE SENTINEL UNIT IN A MUNICIPALITY OF PARANÁ: AN EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

Dengue fever, endemic in more than 100 countries, saw a 400% increase in suspected cases in Brazil in 2024. To address this scenario, Paraná implemented Dengue Sentinel Units, aiming to improve care, enhance epidemiological data, identify outbreaks, and optimize resources. This study describes the experience and challenges of implementing one of these units in a primary health care unit in a municipality in Paraná. It is a descriptive and reflective report, based on the work of Nursing and Dentistry residents from the Multiprofessional Residency Program in Collective Health of the Municipal Health Foundation of Ponta Grossa. In the south of the country, the increase in dengue cases in 2024 and the implementation of the sentinel unit considerably impacted the region's health services. Consequently, the residents' experiences were also affected, bringing with them significant demands for care, new concepts and procedures to be learned, and a great deal of professional knowledge and maturity. It was a collective effort by healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care in a time of need.