Characteristics of Patients with Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in an Outbreak in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India in 2013

Abstract

Background:CCHF (Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever) is a severe fatal viral hemorrhagic fever similar to dengue fever but having potential to cause Nosocomial spread. CCHF virus belongs to RNA virus of Bunyaviridae family and its get transmitted by Hyalomma tick. Viral Illness presents as fever, severe body ache and bleeding manifestations along with thrombocytopenia, altered coagulation profiles and Liver Function Test. Ribavirin, antiviraldrug, if given in early stage may increases survival significantly. Aims: 1) To Study Clinical, Pathological & Biochemical parameters in patients of CCHF 2) To Study the efficacy of Oral Ribavirin in CCHF. Materials and Methods:This retrospective study included 10(ten) patients of RT-PCR confirmed CCHF admitted in Tertiary care teaching hospital of Gujarat, India. Their Clinical Parameters and laboratory finding studied on day to day basis. Oral Ribavirin given to 8 patients as 2 patients died before diagnosis of CCHF established. Results: Almost all patients have had fever of short duration with most having bleeding manifestation with marked thrombocytopenia, altered PT &aPTT, decreased plasma fibrinogen and elevated FDP with mild to modest elevation in liver enzymes .Out of 8 patients who received ribavirin, only one died. Conclusion: Oral ribavirin is to be started empirically in any patients involved in animal husbandry activity and develops acute hemorrhagic febrile illness in which tests for malaria and dengue are negative.