Publication:

Comparative study of anaphylaxis incidence in patients receiving anti-snake venom with or without prophylactic adrenaline: a prospective, randomized, blinded study

Background Anti-snake venom serum (ASV) administered for snake-bite patients is the most specific treatment available. Unfortunately, it can cause severe anaphylaxis which can be fatal sometimes.

Methods Fifty patients were included in the study and randomly divided into group A, who received sub-cutaneous adrenaline before administration of anti-venom serum and group B who did not. Each group comprised of twenty-five patients. The incidences as well as the severity of anaphylaxis in both groups and also the effects of subcutaneous adrenaline on the hemodynamic were analysed.

Results Anaphylactic reactions were significantly less in group A than group B population (p 0.05) implying that administration of sub-cutaneous adrenaline is safe.

Conclusions Prophylactic subcutaneous adrenaline before anti snake venom administration is highly efficacious and safe in reducing the incidence as well as severity of anaphylactic reactions.