Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever

Abstract

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virüs causes severe disease in humans with a mortality reaching 30%. It has the most extensive geographic distribution among the medically important tick borne viral diseases. Although it is more frequently recovered from animals without any symptoms, sporadic cases or epidemics may also be seen in human beings. Acute course of the disease appears with symptoms of generalized pain, myalgia, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, ecchymoses and bleeding and findings of elevated liver enzymes, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. The knowledge of the presenting features of haemorrhagic fevers is necessary for the clinician, as early diagnosis and treatment, might potentially decrease mortality and the chance of secondary spread of the infection. Ribavirin has been tried in the treatment of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.