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

Aim: 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.