Snake bite in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh: a study of bitten patients who developed no signs of systemic envenoming.

Harris, John B, Faiz, Md Abul, Rahman, M Ridwanur, Jalil, Md M A, Ahsan, Md Farid, Theakston, R.David G., Warrell, David A and Kuch, Ulrich (2010) 'Snake bite in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh: a study of bitten patients who developed no signs of systemic envenoming.'. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 104, Issue 5, pp. 320-327.

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Abstract

The demographics, epidemiology, first aid, clinical management, treatment and outcome of snake bites causing no significant signs of systemic envenoming were documented in Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, between May 1999 and October 2002. Among 884 patients admitted, 350 were systemically envenomed and 534 were without signs of either systemic or significant local envenoming. The average age of patients with physical evidence of snake bite but no systemic envenoming was 26.4 years. Most had been bitten on their feet or hands. Ligatures had been applied proximal to the bite site in >95% of cases and the bite site had been incised in 13%. Patients were typically discharged at 24h. Those with clinical signs of systemic envenoming resembled the non-envenomed cases demographically and epidemiologically except that they arrived at hospital significantly later than non-envenomed patients, having spent longer with traditional healers. No non-envenomed patient was treated with antivenom and none went on to develop symptoms of systemic envenoming after discharge. The potential complications and confusing signs caused by ligatures and incision demand that all patients admitted with a history of snake bite be kept under observation for 24h after admission even if they have no signs of systemic envenoming.

Item Type:	Article
Corporate Authors:	Nigeria-UK EchiTab Study Group
Subjects:	WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Animal Poisons > WD 410 Reptiles
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.12.006
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	02 Dec 2010 09:42
Last Modified:	24 Jan 2022 15:34
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1678

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