The clinical presentation and outcomes of dengue fever: a review of a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

Résumé fourni par la source

Dengue fever (DF) is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes and is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Jeddah. Despite recurring outbreaks, recent data on the clinical characteristics, seasonal variation, and outcomes of affected patients in the region remain limited. This study aimed to assess the clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with dengue fever who presented to the emergency department of King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Jeddah, a tertiary care center. A retrospective review was conducted on all medical records of all patients aged ≥ 14 years with serologically confirmed dengue fever who presented to the emergency department of King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, between August 2022 and August 2024. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and patient outcomes were extracted from electronic records and analysed using descriptive statistics with exploratory inferential analyses where appropriate, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The study included 319 patients (mean age 45.7 ± 18.4 years; 53.3% male). The most common presenting symptoms were fever (95.3%), vomiting (44.5%), headache (44.5%), and nausea (43.3%). Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 × 10⁹/L) was observed in 56.4% of patients at presentation, and elevated alanine transaminase levels were identified in 69.1%. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (25.1%) and diabetes (23.5%). Nearly half of the patients (46.7%) required hospitalization, with a mean length of stay of 3.8 days, and no mortality was reported. Most cases occurred in spring (44%) and winter (32%), reflecting a distinct seasonal pattern. Dengue fever in Jeddah primarily affects middle-aged adults and commonly presents with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. The observed seasonal clustering during winter and spring suggests a potential influence of climatic factors on transmission, while the high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension underscores the importance of managing comorbidities in affected patients. These findings support the development of integrated clinical and environmental strategies to enhance dengue control in western Saudi Arabia.

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