Treatment and Management of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral infection with a wide geographic distribution globally. The clinical severity of CCHF varies, with reported mortality rates reaching up to 60%. Despite its spread to new geographic areas and its potential to cause severe and fatal disease, no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment is currently available. Studies on the use of ribavirin for CCHF have yielded conflicting results. Consequently, many physicians manage CCHF patients with supportive care. In this study, we share the positive outcomes observed in CCHF patients who were managed exclusively with supportive treatment without the use of ribavirin.

Methods: The epidemiological characteristics, laboratory results and treatment outcomes of patients with CCHF diagnosis followed up in our clinic between April 1, 2020, and September 31, 2023 were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: The study included 20 patients (5 females and 15 male) with confirmed CCHF. Based on the Severity Scoring Index (SSI) scores, 7 patients with SSI 0-2 were classified as mild cases, 12 patients with SSI 3-9 as moderate cases, and 1 patient with SSI 10-13 as a severe case. No patients received ribavirin as part of their treatment. All patients were managed with supportive care, and no mortality was observed.

Conclusions: Supportive care remains the standard treatment for CCHF management. The effectiveness of ribavirin in CCHF remains unclear.