Clinical profile and outcome of hospitalized patients during first outbreak of dengue in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To describe clinical profile of patients with dengue virus infection hospitalized at a single center during the first outbreak of dengue in Makkah, Saudi Arabia from April to July 2004.

Methods: Clinical information and laboratory abnormalities of patients with suspected dengue infection were collected by a standardized data collection sheet and review of medical records. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by a positive IgM capture ELISA or RT-PCR.