Clinical and demographic characteristics of dengue fever in al-Mukalla, Yemen

Abstract EN

We conducted a descriptive study to investigate the demographic, clinical, Para clinical profile and outcome of patients with suspected dengue fever at referring hospital during outbreak in Al-Mukalla – Yemen.

A 147 patients with a clinical diagnosis of dengue fever (D), dengue fever with warning signs (WD) and severe dengue (SD) were included.

Data were collected with a predesigned form including three sections: for demographic features, clinical manifestations, and for investigations and treatment.

Dengue (D) constituted 7(4.8%) cases, WD 64(43.5%) and SD 76(51.7%) of patients.

The male to female ratio was 1.6: 1.

Commonest age group affected was 13—25 years (61.2%).

Most cases were from Fuwwah and Al-Mukalla neighborhoods.

The most common clinical features were fever (100 %), myalgia and arthralgia (99.3%), headache (98.6 %) and retroorbital pain (95.2 %).

Investigation abnormalities found were thrombocytopenia (93.9%), leukopenia(70%) and elevated liver enzymes(34.7%-42.2%).

Altered mental status, convulsion, shock states, low platelet count and elevated liver enzymes can be regarded as predictive manifestations for severe dengue and it is related fatality.

Most patients responded well to treatment and the mortality rate was 6.8%.

We concluded that our findings were similar to findings in regional and Asian countries.

The outbreak indicates that, dengue is endemic in Hadhramout and necessitates the need to supply hospitals with essential measures and facilities.