Abstract

Background: Dengue fever (DF) affects approximately 390 million every year, of which 96 million manifests clinically. This study aims to explore the common clinical presentations and laboratory findings of DF with the outcome of hospitalized patients at King Abdulaziz medical city in Jeddah.
Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was carried which includes adults 18 years and older who were serologically confirmed the cases of DF and fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were retrieved by using the electronic clinical information system (BestCare) and electronic laboratory information system (CERNER) at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah from Jan 2012 to Dec 2017.
Results: A total of 110 patients were studied, 64 (58.2%) were males and 46 (41.8%) were females, 107 (97.3%) were Saudis and 3 (2.7%) patients were non-Saudis with a median age of 39-year old. Serology tests showed six different patterns of the 110 patients. The most common serology pattern was IgM and IgG positive. The most common clinical presentations were fever (107 patients 97.3%), headache (78 patients 70.9%), myalgia (69 patients 62.7%), vomiting (39 patients 35.5%), and nausea (25 patients 22.7%). The most common lab findings were thrombocytopenia (86 patients), leucopenia (86 patients), aspartate aminotransferase was elevated in 72 patients, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was elevated in 61 patients. 106 patients were diagnosed with DF, 3 patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever, and only 2 patients were diagnosed with dengue shock one of them was admitted to intensive care unit. Regarding the comorbidities, 30 patients were diabetic and 1 patient was pregnant.
Conclusion: Fever and thrombocytopenia were the most common clinical and laboratory findings, while confusion and bleeding were the least findings. The overall mortality of DF was found low.

Key words: Dengue fever, dengue manifestation, dengue hemorrhagic, dengue shock, clinical profile, Nonstructural protein 1