Abstract:

Background and Aims:Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever can cause a fatal hemorrhagic syndrome. We aimed to investigate whether the presence of Helicobacter pylori increases the bleeding or severity of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever. Materials and Methods:Forty-two patients with Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever who had dyspepsia and were hospitalized between April 2009 and July 2009 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their fecal Helicobacter pylori antigen positivity. Clinical and laboratory severity criteria for Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever were investigated in both groups. Results:We could not find any difference between the two groups with regard to severity as defined by clinical and laboratory criteria. Conclusion: This is the first study in the literature investigating the role of Helicobacter pylori in the severity of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever from a country in which both Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and Helicobacter pylori are endemic. Further studies including a larger number of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever patients are necessary to recommend Helicobacter pylori screening and eradication in Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

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