Dengue management: practical and safe hospital-based outpatient care

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Feb;103(2):203-5. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.07.007. Epub 2008 Aug 29.

Abstract

Service provision for a population with endemic dengue is difficult because of its variable incidence and its unpredictable clinical course in individuals. We describe a novel hospital-based outpatient dengue management clinic that is sustainable both during and outside epidemic periods. Pre-defined selection criteria based on demographic, clinical and laboratory prognostic factors were applied. In the first five months, this predominantly nurse-operated, protocol-based clinic enrolled 118 adults, or 35% of patients who would have ordinarily received inpatient care. This resulted in 207 bed-days saved without adverse events.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dengue / therapy*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / economics
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / economics
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Young Adult