Abstract

Objective: Tick-borne diseases including Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) pose a serious epidemiological problem all over the world. The aim of this study is to determine the demographic properties of the reported cases with a tick bite and to evaluate their results of follow up and investigations.

Methods: Age, sex, complaints at admission and on following days, epidemiological history, information on who, when and how removed the tick, bitten region and laboratory findings of patients seen in the Midyat State Hospital due to tick bites between May 2007 and August 2008 were recorded

Results: Mean age of 61 patients admitted to the hospital was 18.2±7.1. Lower extremities (57.1%) were the most common sites bitten. Tick bites were most commonly seen in June, July, and August. Physical and laboratory findings were normal except for fever in four patients. In four patients with fever, a rapid defervescence was observed during follow up. In three patients, another infectious disease was also diagnosed. Their serum samples were found negative for CCHF virus.

Conclusions: In the majority of tick bites, no symptoms develop. Asymptomatic patients with  tick bite should be informed about CCHF and followed until the end of its presumed incubation period. This study revealed that it is not necessary to hospitalize the patients and perform the laboratory tests after removal of ticks. Instead, it is more appropriate to apply for health care if symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting develop within 10 days.