Publication:

Study of snake bite cases admitted in tertiary care hospital in Nagpur

Background In developing countries major portion of individuals bitten by snakes first consult traditional practitioners before visiting a medical centre and resulting delay in transportation leads to mortality. Present study planned to study clinical features and epidemiological factors in snake bite cases.

Methods Hospital based cross sectional study was planned including all snake bite cases admitted during study period. Epi Info 7 used for analysis.

Results Out of 156 snake bite patients, 66.04% subjects were from month of July to September (mean age 37.78 years). About 30.77% of study subjects sought traditional healer for medical care, which was found to be significant when compared with not seeking treatment (Chi square =4.74, df =1, P =0.029). Maximum study subject i.e. 52 (33.33%) received ASV within 1 hour. Only 85 (54.49%) subjects reached the tertiary care hospital within 1- 6 hours following the bite. Mortality was higher in urban area as compared to rural area (P =0.104). Death was higher who had bites on upper limb (11.67%) as compared to bite on lowers limb (2.08%) (P =0.012). Proportion death was higher among those who did not received first Aid measures or took herbal medicine (P =0.022). Mortality was significantly higher in study subjects with complications such as cellulitis and DIC (P =0.006).

Conclusions Mortality among those who received first aid before coming to the hospital was lower (5.56%). Mortality was higher (6.25%) in cases where time interval between bite and initiation of treatment was more than 6 hours.