Epidemiologic evaluation of patients admitted to the Emergency Department due to tick bites

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiologic features of patients who admitted toe epidemiologic features of Emergency Department (ED) due to the tick bite. This study was designed retrospectively by examining medical records of the patients (age?18) who were admitted to our ED with complaints of tick bite. Demographic and clinical features and laboratory findings of the patients were assessed. A total of 263 patients was included for the study. The mean age of the patients was 46,5±17,2 and 139 of them wen female 52.9%. Most of the patients were admitted to the ED in June. 150 of patients (%57) were living in rural areas. The tick bites were mostly found in trunk part of the patients (38%). The ticks, on the body surface of the patients, were mostly removed by doctors (63.9%). While most of the patients were discharged from the ED with suggestions for turning back to control, 33 of them were hospitalized. Patients with tick bites are commonly living in rural areas and admission rate to the ED is being increased in the summer. The EDs have important role in the management of patients with complaints of tick bite. © 2009 OMÜ Tüm Haklari Saklidir.