Venomous snakebites in Diwaniah: A Clinicoepidemiological descriptive study

Authors

  • Mohammed M. Al-Shamsi College of Medicine, Al-Qadisiyah university
  • Aqeel R. Al-Barqawi College of Medicine, Al-Qadisiyah
  • Asaad Habeeb Abdullah Maternity and children teaching hospital, Diwaniah
  • Mohammed K. Al-Jelawi Al-Diwaniah teaching hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28922/qmj.2014.10.18.112-117

Abstract

Background: venomous snakebite is an important health hazard in this area associated with high mortality.Objectives: exploration of snake envenomation cases in children and adolescents up to the age of 16 years in this city with a focus on clinical and demographic characters and causes of death. Patients and methods: this observational and retrospective study involves 49 cases of venomous snakebites admitted to the teaching hospitals in this city between 2005-2009. Results: the median age of patients was 8 years, 84% of the bites happened during the hot season( May – August), most cases were from rural areas ( 90%) particularly from Albdeer, Shannafiah and Alhaffar. The death rate among the studied patients was 28.6% which was very high in comparison with rates reported elsewhere. Conclusion: There is a need for exploration of the types of venomous snakes in this area and a demand for the availability of species specific antivenom.

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Published

2017-07-26

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Articles