Brief Report

Evaluation of Gastrointestinal System Findings in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Patients

10.5152/eajem.2016.71542

  • Ayşe İnci
  • Utku Murat Kalafat
  • Mustafa Baştürk
  • Serkan Doğan
  • Tarık Ocak

Received Date: 28.12.2015 Accepted Date: 11.05.2016 Eurasian J Emerg Med 2016;15(2):105-107

Aim:

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a disease caused by a virus. Early diagnosis of CCHF particularly in regions where the disease frequently occurs is important for taking necessary measures and for immediately starting the treatment process. This study aims to evaluate gastrointestinal system (GIS) findings in the patients.

Materials and Methods:

Patient history, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and contact with tick, was recorded. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or Polymerase Chain Reaction tests were used for diagnoses.

Results:

The ratio of tick bite history was found to be 73.1%. According to the GIS findings of the patients at the time of admission, the ratio of nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and elevated AST and ALT levels were 61.2%, 37.6%, 27.9%, and 78.4% respectively. Five of the 93 patients died, and the mortality rate was 5.4%.

Conclusion:

Considering that early diagnosis is vital for the clinical course of the patients and the prevention of hospital infections and that every patient may not have a history of tick bite, it should be kept in mind that the disease can occur particularly with GIS findings in high season living in endemic regions and thus CCHF should be suspected.

Keywords: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, gastrointestinal findings, tick, viral hemorrhagic fever