Keywords
Snake bite; Envenomation; Oman; Coagulopathy; Anti-snake venom
Abstract
Background:
The present study is a retrospective review of snakebite envenomation in a regional hospital in Oman, over a period of 6 years from January 2011 to December 2016.
Objective:
To evaluate the frequency of snake bite, their clinical characteristics, outcome and management.
Methods and Results:
We carried out a retrospective observational study of a total of 83 cases of snakebites. There was no difference in the frequency of bite between Omani (48.2%) and non-Omani (51.8%) patients. The majority (84.3%) of the victims were male. Most of the bites (53%) happened in farm areas, particularly at morning and evening with 34.9% and 33.7% respectively. The common site of bite was lower (55.4%) and upper (43.4%) limbs; 68.7% of the patients had abnormal coagulation profile. During discharge, 92.8% patients had normal coagulation profile. Among four patients of acute kidney injury, one patient required hemodialysis and subsequently developed chronic kidney disease. During the study period no death observed as a result of snakebite. We observed the frequency of snakebite increased yearly and a sharp rise in 2016 with the rate of 49.40%. Most bites were occurred in between May and October, where the maximum peak noticed in the month of May and August with16.9% and 18.1% respectively. Polyvalent Anti-Snake Venom (ASV), tetanus toxoid and antibiotics were used as a part of management.
Conclusion:
The reason behind the increased number of victims is negligence among occupational workers while working in snake-infested areas. So, increase awareness is necessary to reduce the incidence of snake bite by educating people about proper safety measures and in turn to minimize the patients suffering and treatment cost at personal and as well as government level.
Citation
Khan YMT, Fatema N and Shekeili NAA. Snake Bite Envenomation: Experience in a Regional Hospital, Oman: A Retrospective Observational Study. SM Trop Med J. 2017; 2(1): 1015.