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. 2022 Nov 30;37(6):e452.
doi: 10.5001/omj.2023.57. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Dengue Fever in a Recent Outbreak in Oman: A Single Center Retrospective-cohort Study

Salah T Al Awaidy  1 , Faryal Khamis  2 , Ibrahim Al-Zakwani  3 , Shadha Al Kindi  2 , Suad Al Busafi  2 , Khalsa Al Sulaimi  2 , Hilal Al Sidiari  2
Affiliations

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Dengue Fever in a Recent Outbreak in Oman: A Single Center Retrospective-cohort Study

Salah T Al Awaidy et al. Oman Med J. .

Abstract

Objectives: Dengue fever (DF) is the most common arthropod-borne viral illness with significant public health implications that can cause severe clinical symptoms and possibly death. We sought to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients presented with DF to the Royal Hospital in a recent outbreak in Oman.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study between 1 January and 18 April 2022, at the Royal Hospital, Oman, including all patients who presented with febrile illness and laboratory-confirmed DF. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

Results: The cohort included 58 patients with laboratory-confirmed DF, of whom 39 (67.2%) required admission. The overall mean age was 41.0±20.0 years. Over half (55.2%) were females and the majority (86.2%) were Omani citizens. Eighty-one percent of the patients were residents of Bawshar in Muscat governorate. Dengue virus 2 was the isolated serotype. Fever (98.3%), muscular aches and pains (55.2%), and headache (53.4%) were the most common symptoms on presentation. All patients except two had no travel history. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (29.3%) and diabetes mellitus (17.2%). Upon admission, the most prominent hematological and biochemical abnormalities were severe thrombocytopenia (31.0%) with platelet counts of < 50 000/mm3 and hepatic impairment (15.5%). Antibiotics were prescribed to 27.6% of the patients. All patients improved clinically, and no deaths were reported during the study period.

Conclusions: Fever and thrombocytopenia were the commonest presentations of DF. Identification of factors linked to increased risk of hospitalization in patients with DF can assist in recognizing individuals who need close monitoring and intensive support.

Keywords: Communicable Disease; Dengue; Disease Outbreak; Epidemiological Study; Oman.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dengue fever reported and rate per 100 000 population in Oman from 2013 to 2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dengue cases by age in Oman from 2013 to2020.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Presenting signs and symptoms of dengue cases admitted to the Royal Hospital, N = 58.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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