The weather has warmed up, watch out for ticks – Health News
Chief physician Altıntop stressed that CCHF disease, which is seen as a result of tick bites, is more common between April and October and that this disease peaks especially in August, provided information about the occupational groups at risk. Altıntop said: “As it is known, ticks can expose us to many diseases when they somehow attach to the body. All over the world, tick-related diseases are known as those caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites, and the tick carries them to the body. It can cause many diseases in many parts of the world. Who is at risk with these diseases? It can be seen in the field, in the oil field, in those who work in landscaping, with construction workers, with the citizens who go on a picnic. Apart from that, it can be seen in the herders and nearby areas where animals are heavily fed. We see it more often in forest areas, in land conditions where there is no normal life,” he said.
Altıntop noted that the disease peaks in August and said: “It increases a lot, especially between April and October. It goes with an increasing plateau towards the end of spring, peaking. Then, after reaching its peak in August, it decreases to the end of October. In that respect, we are in somewhat riskier times in April. As we approach the end of spring, we may encounter more tick-related diseases,” he said.
“When a tick is seen on the body, take it to the emergency room without removing it”
Chief physician Altıntop underlined that CCHF disease has flu-like symptoms and when the tick is seen on the body, it is necessary to immediately contact the emergency service; “I especially want to warn about symptoms. It mimics normal flu symptoms. It can cause many symptoms such as weakness, malaise, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, vomiting, nausea in the body. In such a case, the tick bites and stays where it is “We want them to report to the emergency services. Because the tick may have regurgitated contaminated material and infected more areas during removal. We want our citizens to be careful about this. They receive long-term treatment, but we provide supportive treatment, especially in the initial period,” he said.
People living in these areas beware.
Altıntop stated that cases are common in Turkey, especially in some regions, and said, “Apart from all these, I would like to provide information about Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. As seen all over the world, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is seen in Turkey, especially in northern Central Anatolia, in the northern and eastern Black Sea regions.” It is seen in the northern parts of Eastern Anatolia.
According to Kayseri State Hospital Chief Physician Assoc. Dr İsmail Altıntop continued his statement as follows:
“Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is transmitted by infected ticks. Or infected ticks can infect an animal and be transmitted with the blood of animals. It can also be transmitted with human secretions or human blood. In this regard, it is possible to isolate suspected cases from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and protect both health care workers and their relatives.”Many symptoms can be seen. It is a condition that leads to nosebleeds and massive bleeding, especially with rashes and hemorrhagic lesions, resulting in death in the range of 10-50%. Caution is advised in this regard.”