Ayşe ALBAYRAK, Serpil EROL, Ahmet YENİSOLAK, Göknur Yapar TOROS

5977

Evaluation of the tick bites in a Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) endemic area in Turkey

After the first description of a CCHF outbreak in Turkey, tick bites became an increasing cause of visits to health-care facilities. In this study, we evaluated tick bites in a CCHF endemic region. Materials and methods: The study included cases of tick bites that were referred to 2 hospitals in Erzurum between June and October 2008. All cases were followed-up for 10 days for the results of CCHF. Results: During the study period, 161 patients were admitted for a tick bite. The majority (56.3%) were farmers and housewives. Children ≤ 13 years of age were bitten mostly on the head and neck (44.4%), while adults were bitten mostly on their legs (42.6%). Of the tick attachment sites, 18.3% were on non-visible regions of the body of the victims. In 39.1% of the cases, ticks were removed by medical staff. During a 10-day follow-up, CCHF occurred in 2 cases (1.2%). Conclusion: A tick bite poses an important problem for the resident population in CCHF endemic areas. A detailed body inspection after each outing in areas of possible contact with ticks, as well as the early removal of an attached tick, is important to prevent tick-borne diseases. An inspection of the non-visible regions of the body of the victim should be performed by another person. Education of public and medical staff is required for the prevention and management of tick bites.
Anahtar Kelimeler:

Key words: Tick bite, infection, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Evaluation of the tick bites in a Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) endemic area in Turkey

After the first description of a CCHF outbreak in Turkey, tick bites became an increasing cause of visits to health-care facilities. In this study, we evaluated tick bites in a CCHF endemic region. Materials and methods: The study included cases of tick bites that were referred to 2 hospitals in Erzurum between June and October 2008. All cases were followed-up for 10 days for the results of CCHF. Results: During the study period, 161 patients were admitted for a tick bite. The majority (56.3%) were farmers and housewives. Children ≤ 13 years of age were bitten mostly on the head and neck (44.4%), while adults were bitten mostly on their legs (42.6%). Of the tick attachment sites, 18.3% were on non-visible regions of the body of the victims. In 39.1% of the cases, ticks were removed by medical staff. During a 10-day follow-up, CCHF occurred in 2 cases (1.2%). Conclusion: A tick bite poses an important problem for the resident population in CCHF endemic areas. A detailed body inspection after each outing in areas of possible contact with ticks, as well as the early removal of an attached tick, is important to prevent tick-borne diseases. An inspection of the non-visible regions of the body of the victim should be performed by another person. Education of public and medical staff is required for the prevention and management of tick bites.
Keywords:

Key words: Tick bite, infection, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever,

PDF
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences-Cover
  • ISSN: 1300-0144
  • Yayın Aralığı: 6
  • Yayıncı: TÜBİTAK
Arşiv
Sayıdaki Diğer Makaleler

Immunohistochemical evaluation of the effects of nebivolol on intimal hyperplasia following endothelial injury

İlker AKAR, Ayhan UYSAL, Bilal ÜSTÜNDAĞ, İbrahim Hanifi ÖZERCAN, M. Cengiz ÇOLAK, Ali RAHMAN

Atypical acute urticaria in children and its relationship with urticarial vasculitis

Zafer ARSLAN, Serap ÖZMEN, Nilüfer ARDA, Sara SÜRMELİ

Hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Monascus purpureus fermented Indian rice in high cholesterol diet fed rats

Aiyalu RAJASEKARAN, Muthusamy KALAIVANI

Efficacy of hyaluronic acid - carboxymethyl cellulose membrane (Seprafilm®) and polylactic acid barrier film (Surgiwrap™) for the prevention of adhesions after thyroid surgery: an experimental model

Gökhan ÇİPE, Hakan Mustafa KÖKSAL, Sadık YILDIRIM, Mustafa Fevzi CELAYİR, Adil BAYKAN

Are gram negative bacilli a threat for prosthetic joint replacements? Experience of a university hospital

Emine Alp MEŞE, Emine Bige KIRAN, Mehmet DOĞANAY, Mehmet HALICI, Mahmut ARGUN

The second step in vitro trial of Ankaferd® Bloodstopper®: comparison with other hemostatic agents

Mehmet Özgür YÜCEL, Kadir Turgay AKGÜL, Rüştü Cankon GERMİUANOĞLU, Hesna Müzeyyen ASTARCI, Hüseyin ÜSTÜN, Emre HURİ

Türkiye'deki bir hastanenin invazif araç ilişkili enfeksiyon hızları; dört yıllık deneyim

Aslıhan CANDEVİR, Behice KURTARAN, Filiz KİBAR, Emre KARAKOÇ, Hasan Salih Zeki AKSU, Yeşim TAŞOVA

Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu’s drawings of gyneco-obstetric instruments

Nuri Selim KADIOĞLU, Oya ÖGENLER, İlter UZEL

Denizli bölgesinde gebe kadınlarda rubella, Toxoplasma gondii ve sitomegalovirus seroprevalansının değerlendirilmesi

Aysun KARABULUT, Yusuf POLAT, Meral TÜRK, Yasemin İşik BALCI

Plasma adiponectin and resistin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: relation to body mass index and insulin resistance

Berrin ARSLAN, Zeynep CANTÜRK, İlhan TARKUN, Funda ÖZTÜRK, Emre DİKMEN