A case of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever complicated with acute pulmonary embolism

Background Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the common causes of tick-borne hemorrhagic infections. The study aims to report a case of a female patient with severe CCHF with pulmonary embolism. Case report A 61-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department with complaints of high fever, nausea, and weakness. The patient was dealing with animal husbandry and had a tick bite history. At laboratory findings, bicytopenia, abnormal liver function tests, and elevated coagulation parameters were observed. Real-time plymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis of CCHF. Three sessions of plasmapheresis were performed due to continued fever and worsening in laboratory values. Pulmonary embolism was detected in computerized thorax tomography carried out due to respiratory alkalosis on the 6th day. She was successfully treated with supportive and anticoagulation therapy. Conclusion CCHF demonstrates different types of clinical presentations apart from fever and hemorrhage. Acute pulmonary embolism is a rare complication that has not been reported before.

Automated summary

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a common tick-borne hemorrhagic infection. Apart from fever and hemorrhage, CCHF can present with different clinical manifestations. This study reports a rare case of a female patient with pulmonary embolism associated with severe CCHF, who was successfully treated with supportive and anticoagulation therapy.