Epidemiological Profile of Snakebite Cases in King George Hospital, Lucknow

Snake envenomation is an important global health issue. Snakebite is declared as a “Neglected Tropical Disease” by the World Health Organization. As a result, this may be considered as a matter of global health concern for the people in general and the rural communities of the developing countries including India. Despite of increased medical facilities people are still coming with adapting superstitious belief & practicing act like making incision at the bite site, applying tight tourniquets, going to traditional healers etc.

In the present study epidemiological profile of 108 snakebite cases admitted in KGMU hospital has been studied.

Majority of snake bite cases occur in the age group of 21-50 years with male preponderance. They were mostly from a rural background and most of them were bitten outdoors while working in fields. Most of the bites involved the lower limbs. Signs of envenomation (neurological symptoms) were observed in 63.89% of the cases. In the only case of fatal outcome in our study, there was a delay in diagnosis of snake bite owing to the absence of bite marks. The case emphasizes on the presenting symptoms of vasculotoxicity (haematemesis, haematuria, decreased urine output) considered in an otherwise healthy person who presents with sudden onset of neuroparalytic features. There is sharp increase in cases during rainy season during July, September (P=0.0001, t=27.2107, dt=106)