Pediatric Arboviral Infections in Europe: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Prevention

Abstract

Arboviral infections, including West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and, to a lesser extent, Oropouche virus (OROV), pose a heterogeneous and evolving challenge for pediatric health in Europe. The increasing presence of competent vectors and international travel has resulted in both imported infections and, for selected arboviruses, documented autochthonous transmission events. Although pediatric cases are often underrecognized, children may develop severe manifestations, including neuroinvasive disease and congenital infection. Available data on pediatric arboviral infections in Europe remain limited and fragmented, complicating accurate assessment of disease burden and clinical risk. This review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and prevention of selected arboviral infections in children within the European context, highlighting persistent gaps in pediatric-specific data and implications for preparedness and public health.