Clinical profile of snake bite patients in tertiary care hospital in Himachal Pradesh: a prospective study
Background: To study clinical profile of snake bite patients in tertiary care hospital in Indra Gandhi Medical College at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh of North India.Methods: Hospital based prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, for the duration of one year from 1st June2013 to 31st May 2014.Results: A total of 78 patients were admitted with mean age of 38.46 years with male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Seasonal variation with peak incidence during rainy season was seen. Most common snake identified was green coloured and peak timing of snake bite was between 07:00am-04:00pm. There was delay in admission of more than 6 hours in 66.67% of cases. Hemotoxicity was predominant manifestation seen in 62.82% of cases and persistence of coagulopathy was most common complication (51.02%) despite giving optimal ASV. There was paucity in ASV administration seen in only 59.46% of referred patients. Mean ASV vials used were 23.41 vials ±8.72 vials.Conclusions: Mass education is required at both general population and health professional levels to improve snake bite management and monovalent ASV against Green pit viper is more practical option to manage cases in this region.