Study of morbidity and subsidence of symptoms: subject to time gap of snakebite and treatment.

Abstract

Abstract The objectives of the study were to assess the morbidity and the time taken for the subsidence of symptoms among snakebite victims and study the Interval between snakebite and initiation of treatment It was a hospital based cross-sectional study. Patients were studied at the time of admission and were followed-up until recovery or death. A total of 84 patients were studied between April 2006 and March 2007. The ratio of males to females was 1.5:1.Maximum number of victims were farmers/ labourers. Among the snakebite victims 82.14% were from the nearby rural and semi rural areas and 32.14% of the bites were found to be poisonous. Maximum number of bites (70.23%) occurred in the lower extremities. About 83.31% attended hospital for treatment within the first 5 hours of bite. Most of the patients who received their Initial treatment within first 3-4 hours in hospital were cured faster. Severity of signs and symptoms of envenomation was found to be directly related to the amount of venom injected. Therefore antisnake venom should be given as early as possible, the maximum effect being if given within the first 4 hours.