Tick Found in Man’s Ear Causing Pain, Hospital Visit
The increase in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases due to tick bites has become a concern in Erzincan, Turkey. According to Assoc. Dr. Faruk Karakeçili, the Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at the Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, this trend is expected to continue until August-September. Those with symptoms such as joint pain, fever, and weakness are advised to stay away from fields and farming. Two people have already been diagnosed with CCHF in Erzincan since May.
CCHF is common in the Central Anatolia and Eastern Black Sea Region’s neighboring areas, especially in the Kelkit Valley area. The disease is also prevalent in the rural districts of Erzincan. Experts predict that CCHF cases will continue to rise in the coming months.
A citizen in Erzincan reported to the Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital with ear pain, and doctors found a tick in the patient’s ear. After removal by specialist doctors, the patient was treated and discharged without any complications. Dr. Karakeçili warns citizens in rural areas to be alert to the symptoms of CCHF and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Dr. Karakeçili also advises people going to the countryside to take precautions against ticks, such as tucking trousers into socks, wearing light-colored clothes, and spraying insect repellent on trouser legs or feet. When returning from the countryside, individuals need to check themselves for ticks that may not be immediately visible. Dr. Karakeçili stresses the importance of early intervention and treatment to diagnosed patients.
