Comparison of Blood Parameters in Crimean-Congo  Hemorrhagic Fever and Upper Respiratory Infection Patients with Similar Complaints

Halil Ibrahim  Doru; Orhan  Delıce; Furkan  Akpınar; Onur  Zengın; Sibel Iba  Yılmaz; Sinan  Yılmaz

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i10.20142

Halil Ibrahim Doru Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Sciences University Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
Orhan Delıce Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Sciences University Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
Furkan Akpınar Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Sciences University Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
Onur Zengın Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Sciences University Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
Sibel Iba Yılmaz Department of Infectious Diseases, Health Sciences University Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
Sinan Yılmaz Department of Public Health, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i10.20142

Keywords: Complete blood count; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; Upper respiratory tract infection

Abstract

Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) often presents with non-specific flu-like symptoms that resemble upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), especially in endemic areas. We aimed to evaluate whether complete blood count (CBC) parameters could distinguish between CCHF and URTI in emergency settings.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective comparative analysis of 503 patients: 203 confirmed CCHF cases and 300 URTI cases. The study was carried out at Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey, between 2023 and 2024. Hematological parameters including WBC, PLT, RDW, MPV, and others were analyzed. ROC analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic value in CCHF patients.

Results: Significant differences in multiple CBC parameters were observed between the two groups. CCHF patients had significantly lower WBC, PLT, and lymphocyte counts, and higher MPV and RDW values compared to URTI patients (P-value<0.001). Among CCHF cases, 40.4% were initially misdiagnosed as URTI. ROC analysis indicated moderate prognostic power for HGB and PLT in predicting mortality.

Conclusion: CBC parameters can assist in distinguishing CCHF from URTI in endemic areas, especially when RT-PCR is unavailable. Emergency physicians should consider CCHF in differential diagnosis when specific hematological abnormalities are present.