Study of Snakebite Patients Admitted in Emergency Medicine Department

The real medical emergency of snake bite is a primary problem of rural population, A recent study estimates 2, 00, 000 of snake bite cases and 35, 000-50, 000 deaths per year across the globe. The highest burden is in south Asia and sub-saharan Africa. In this study we have done clinical study of patients admitted in our emergency medicine department.

Total 63 cases of snakebite poisoning were included in our study. They were treated as per standard treatment.

In present study, only one patient died who arrived in cardiorespiratory arrest., 41 patients were having neurotoxic manifestations while 17.5% were asymptomatic shown increased awareness about snake bite among general population. Maximum numbers of victims (40) are in monsoon season of July to October. Most of the patients with mild to moderate envenomation shown marked subsidence in symptoms within 3 hours after commencement of treatment.

Snakebite poisoning is an occupation related medical emergency in India because more than 70% of people live in rural area having agricultural activity. The morbidity and mortality of snake bite can be reduced by several timely steps.

Snake bite can be treated well by timely treatment and awareness in general population. This can be achieved by cooperation from local health care system and government sector.