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Some Epidemiological
Features of Dengue Fever in Saudi Arabia
Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of
Medicine, Tanta University1 & Mansura University2,
Egypt.
Tanta Med. Sc. J 2008; 3(2):109-117
Article type: Original article
Background/Aim: Dengue fever has emerged as a serious international
public health threat with almost half of the world population at
risk. The aim of this work is to study some epidemiological and
entomological features of the disease. Subject & methods: This is a
hospital based study, included all patients admitted to hospitals in
Holly Mecca City, Saudi Arabia for three months who met case
definition for confirmed Dengue fever (DF) or Dengue hemorrhagic
fever (DHF). The data collected through direct interview, from
patient files, relatives and health team. Cases were followed
through their hospital stay. Laboratory investigations (total
leucocytic count, total platelets count, haemoglobin, liver
functions) were done. Surveillance for houses in affected area and
adjacent sites to know different types of adult mosquitoes and to
assess the indices for larva and or pupa for Aedes aegypti
infestation level were obtained from specific unit for vector
surveillance and house index (PI) Container index (CI) were
calculated. Results: Most of cases admitted in stable condition
(94.37%). Only one case died (1.41) and others discharged after
improvement (99.59%). Dengue-1 and 3 types was the prevalent dengue
viruses, Cases in age group 16-44 were the most frequent
(70.40%).The disease was more frequent in students (33.80%), house
wives (19.70%) and more than two thirds of the cases (63.40) was
among Saudi persons. Fever reported from all cases followed by
headache (74.60%), myalgia and anorexia (67.60%), back pain (59.20%)
and chills (54.90%). DF represents (60.57%) while DHF represented
(39.43). DHF was more frequent among males compared to females (75%
and 53.80% respectively). Haemorrhagic manifestations were more
frequent among DHF (25%) in comparison to DF cases (10.30%). About
half of cases had underground water tanks for human use, 5.60% had
over house roof water tanks and 43.70% had both types, 16.90% of
these tanks were uncovered. Approximately 70% of cases reported
presence of small collection of water near by houses and in 26.80%
of cases there was under construction buildings with presence of
uncovered water collection. Mosquitoes within houses was reported by
46.78% of cases and larval surveillance (larva/pupa) of Aedes
aegypti showed that house index was 26.76% and container index
15.27%. Conclusion: DF represented two thirds of cases, while DHF
were one third. The prevalent dengue viruses were Dengue-1 and
dengue-3. Most of cases occurred in adult age and among students.
Mortality was found to be 1.41%. Breading sites for mosquitoes
present within houses and in surrounding environment. |