Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an infectious disease characterized by hemorrhagic fever, transmitted by ticks, caused by the KKHF virus from the Bunyaviridae virus group. It causes serious disease in humans with a high mortality rate. The disease is naturally seen in many countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, including Turkey.
While the first cases in the world were seen in Crimea and the Congo region of Africa, the disease in Turkey was first reported in Tokat province in 2002. has been reported. The majority of cases (95%) come from the northern region of Central Anatolia and Eastern Anatolia Region, especially Tokat, Sivas, Çorum, Yozgat, Çankırı and Erzurum. Patients are seen mainly from the beginning of March to the end of October and especially in June-July, when ticks are active. Approximately 70% of the patients have a history of tick contact (biting, attachment, manual removal), and 30% have a history of close contact with pets (tic carriers). p>
Following tick attachment, symptoms of CCF disease appear within 1-3 days (maximum 9 days). Symptoms appear suddenly;
- Muscle aches,
- Dizziness
- Neck pain and stiffness, >
- Backache,
- Headache,
- Sore throat
- Sensitivity to light
may be observed.
Nausea, vomiting and sore throat may occur in the early period; This picture may be accompanied by diarrhea and widespread abdominal pain. Within a few days, we may encounter sharp mood swings in the patient, the patient may become drowsy or aggressive. Agitation may be replaced by depression and fatigue after 2-4 days, and severe pain may occur in the upper right part of our abdomen due to enlargement of the liver. On the 5th day of the disease, we may experience redness on our skin, bruising, bleeding in the whites of the eyes, red blood in the urine and stool, Complaints such as bleeding in saliva begin. During this period, there is a high fever of up to 38-39 degrees. If the disease is not intervened in the first 10 days, death is inevitable at the end of the 2nd week.
Sudden onset; fever, malaise, headache In a person with symptoms such as pain, widespread body pain, joint pain, diarrhea; If there is a history of tick contact or tick attachment, a history of contact with animals, living in rural areas or traveling to rural areas in the last two weeks, it is necessary to suspect the disease and apply to the nearest health institution for the necessary tests. Such suspicious cases are immediately hospitalized, monitored closely, and necessary treatments are started immediately. CCD is a notifiable infectious disease and is monitored by Provincial Health Directorates. Antibiotic treatment is started immediately in suspicious cases, and diagnosis is made by sending blood and swab samples. It is important to be careful when visiting picnic places such as parks and open forest areas, especially in the spring and summer months, when the incidence of the disease increases. Ticks attach to legs, knees and ankles in these areas, especially near the ground. That's why it's recommended to travel with our legs and arms covered. Light colored (white)clothes keep ticks away. Long boot-style shoes prevent ticks from attaching to our legs. Putting trouser legs inside socks can also be a protective method. Additionally, insect repellent drugs can be used in the form of sprays for exposed, bare parts of our body. It should not be forgotten that not every tick carries this microbe. Therefore, it is unnecessary to panic about tick bites. If you notice a tick on your body, you can go to the nearest health institution (health centers, emergency services) and have it removed by healthcare professionals using special tick scissors without causing bleeding. People living in or traveling to geographical areas at particular risk for CCHF disease (such as the north of the Central Anatolia Region, the inner parts of the Black Sea Region, Sivas, Tokat surroundings) should pay attention to this. Disease symptoms generally appear within 1 week to 10 days after tick bite.
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