Abstract

Objective: Cases of tick bite require careful assessment because Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an increasingly important tick-borne disease in Turkey. The aim of this study is to analyse the patients who applied to the hospital for a tick bite and to determine the prevalence of tick bites in the Bolu Province according to the records of the Provincial Directorate of Health. 

Methods: The charts of the patients admitted to the Emergency Department between 1 January 2007 and 31 July 2010 were reviewed. The locations where the tick attached to the patient, site of the tick bite on the body, dates of tick bite and removal of the tick as well as the demographic characteristics were recorded. Moreover, data of the Provincial Directorate of Health on total number of tick bites, confirmed CCHF cases and deaths due to CCHF in the Bolu Province during the study period were evaluated. 

Results: A total of 451 patients were admitted to the Emergency Department, and 52.5% were female. The mean age was 41.7 years. The cases were predominantly observed in June and July, and were mostly from the city center (n=216) and the majority of them (n=338) were found to take place in the patients’ primary living area. For patients in some professional groups such as labourers, officials and retired persons, the difference between male and female patients was statistically significant in terms of incurring a tick bite. According to the records of the whole province during the study period, 10 979 patients had a tick bite, 72 were diagnosed as CCHF, and 6 patients had a fatal outcome. 

Conclusions: Contact with a tick is a hazardous condition and precautions such as development of public awareness, preventive measures and education of the healthcare staff is crucial.