A clinico-epidemiological study of snakebite among children in a rural medical college from eastern India

Abstract

Background: Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease and one of the major causes of mortality in developing countries like India. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study was done among paediatric population admitted to the hospital with history of snakebite. Results: Deaths due to snakebite were 2.8% of total death. Most of the cases were during monsoon (55%) and from rural area (93%). Only 13.6% patients came to hospital within 6 hours. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged in 36.67% and 33.33% cases respectively. The 20-minute Whole Blood Clotting Test (WBCT20) was positive in 47.6% of poisonous snakebites and in 63.6% of vasculotoxic snakebites. 62% cases recovered with 10 vials of ASV, however some needed >20 vials. Conclusion: Epidemiological data are vital for evaluation of exact scenario of snakebite cases. Poor health care seeking behaviour of community increases mortality.