scholarly journals Epidemiology and Clinical Outcome of Snakebite in Western Nepal: A Retrospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
D Karki ◽  
B Sharma ◽  
R Koirala ◽  
A Nagila

Introduction: Snakebite is an environmental hazard associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is an important medical emergency and cause of significant numbers of hospital admissions in many parts of the Asian region. In this study, we assess the epidemiology and clinical outcome of snake bite. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with snake bites admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, kaski, Nepal. A total numbers of 265 snake bite cases in the period of 2013 to 2016 were enrolled in this study. Snake bite cases by person, place and time along with month of snake bite and time of bite, were analyzed. We also identified the types of snake and site of the bite. Sign and symptoms were clinically observed and the management of the snake bite cases was clinically done. Prothrombin time (PT) test along with INR value was performed by Medical Technologist at the Department of Laboratory, Manipal Teaching Hospital. Data was entered in to the Microsoft excel and analyzed by SPPS version 21.0. Percentages were applied to find the results. Results: Total numbers of snake bite cases were 265. More than half, 60.4% of the snake bite cases were females. Regarding the age group, nearly half, 47.9% were in the age group of 20 - 40 years and 9.8% cases were in the age group of 60 years and above. In this study, 50.6% bite cases were held at the day time and most of the bites were reported/ observed in the limb, 53.6% in lower limb, and 43.4% in the upper limb. Very few bites were in the head, neck and trunk. Our result shows 49.1% were green snake and 30.9% snake were unidentified. When we observed the sign and symptoms, 153 (57.7%) cases showed local swelling, 83 (31.3%) showed fang mark. Hematological manifestation were 144 (54.3%) cases and complication observed in 145 (54.7%) cases. Snake bite cases were managed after PT/INR test, INR. Antibiotic were prescribed in 154 cases and in 135 (50.9%) cases blood was transfused. There were no fetal cases noticed among hospital admitted snake bite cases. Conclusion: There is gross disparity in the management and outcomes of snake bite in different hospitals. Snake bite cases should manage in tertiary care hospital as early as possible.

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1727
Author(s):  
Keshava Murthy M. R. ◽  
Aruna C. Ramesh

Background: Snakebite is a life-threatening medical emergency. It occurs frequently among rural people, especially those working in the fields. Most houses in rural areas of India are made of mud and have many crevices where rodents flourish. Delay in seeking medical aid or ignorance among primary care physicians about the correct treatment of snakebite is responsible for the high morbidity and mortality. Authors objective was to study the clinical profile of snake bite at a rural tertiary care centre.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at M S Rammaih Medical College Bangalore from   June 2017 to June 2018.  The incidence of Snake bite in Karnataka is 0.5% and at 95% confidence interval with Margin of error at 1% the estimated sample size was 197, but in this study author were able to collect data of 237 cases, hence all the cases were included in the study and analyzed.Results: Majority of the respondents were middle aged between 21-50 years. Around 63.3% of the respondents were male and nearly 56.2% were farmers. The incidence of snake bite of Cobra was seen in 8.9%, Krait 5.1% and viper 4.2%. Around 70% patients had no significant complications following hospitalization in our study. Around 20% had hematotoxic like ARF, DIC and local gangrene.Conclusions: Snakebite is one of the common hazards especially in rural setup as agriculture being the main occupation. Snake bite can present with various manifestations at bite sites, neurotoxicity, hematotoxicity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Tanjimul Islam ◽  
Shamrin Sultana ◽  
Md Kafil Uddin ◽  
Matiur Rahman

Background: Snake bite is a common medical emergency and one of the important causes of mortality and morbidity in hill tracts of Bangladesh. Neurological and psychiatric features predominate as both early and late features of snake bite patients and need to be identified correctly for proper management.Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the pattern of early and late neuropsychiatric manifestations of snake bite in hill tracts with clinical outcomes.Materials and Methods: This descriptive hospital-based study was done on 121 snake bite patients during the period from January 2015 to July 2016 using simple, direct, standardized questionnaire with history, neurological examination and psychiatric evaluation.Results: Majority of cases (71.9%) were admitted into hospital after two hours of snake bite. Lower limb was the commonest site (75.2%) of bite. Generalized weakness (50.4%) and anxiety (52.9%) were the commonest early neurological and psychiatric manifestations. Numbness (57%) and depression (33.9%) were the commonest late neurological and psychiatric manifestations among survivors; 37.2% needed referral to tertiary care hospital and 34.7% received antivenom. Death rate was 17.4% and 73.6% were cured completely without complication.Conclusion: As neurological and psychiatric manifestations are common in both early and late stages in snake bite in hill tracts, these are to be considered in the total management to decrease mortality and morbidity.J Enam Med Col 2018; 8(1): 20-24


Author(s):  
Sandhya Mishra ◽  
Deepak Chopra ◽  
Nidhi Jauhari ◽  
Ausaf Ahmad

Background: Dengue virus infection is a growing health problem and is prevalent throughout India. Research focusing on length of hospital stay and its predictors is scarce from India. This is important considering the burden of the disease during epidemics and impact on hospital admissions. Hence the study was conducted with the objectives to find out the factors influencing the length of stay in hospital of dengue patients.Methods: A cross sectional retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital from August 2016 to October 2016. Data was retrieved from case sheets at Medical Record Department of 350 lab confirmed adult dengue patients admitted in the hospital.Results: The majority of patients admitted were of economically productive age group of 18-45 years and males indicating the occupational exposure to the vector of dengue. The study found that majority had length of stay of less than a week and as age increases the length of stay also increases (statistically significant). The nil case fatality and lesser number of mean days of symptoms before admission possibly indicate that early arrival of patients to hospital can lead to very low fatality rates. Further research required to find out the other predictors of length of stay.Conclusions: The study concludes that the dengue affects the economically productive age group and more males thereby indicating occupational exposure to the vector. The age of the patient can be used as an indicator to the length of stay in the hospital.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Brandenberger ◽  
Christian Pohl ◽  
Florian Vogt ◽  
Thorkild Tylleskär ◽  
Nicole Ritz

Abstract BackgroundAsylum-seeking children represent an increasing and vulnerable group of patients whose health needs are largely unmet. Data on the health care provision to asylum-seeking children in European contexts is scarce. In this study we compare the health care provided to recent asylum-seeking and non-asylum-seeking children at a Swiss tertiary hospital.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional retrospective study in a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Basel, Switzerland. All patients and visits from January 2016 to December 2017 were identified, using administrative and medical electronic health records. The asylum-seeking status was systematically assessed and the patients were allocated accordingly in the two study groups.Results A total of 202,316 visits by 55,789 patients were included, of which asylum-seeking patients accounted for 1674 (1%) visits by 439 (1%) individuals. The emergency department recorded the highest number of visits in both groups with a lower proportion in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking children: 19% (317/1674) and 32% (64,315/200,642) respectively. The median number of visits per patient was 1 (IQR 1-2) in the asylum-seeking and 2 (IQR 1-4) in the non-asylum-seeking children. Hospital admissions were more common in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking patients with 11% (184/1674) and 7% (14,692/200,642). Frequent visits (>15 visits per patient) accounted for 48% (807/1674) of total visits in asylum-seeking and 25% (49,886/200,642) of total visits in non-asylum-seeking patients. ConclusionsHospital visits by asylum-seeking children represented a small proportion of all visits. The emergency department had the highest number of visits in all patients but was less frequently used by asylum-seeking children. Frequent care suggests that asylum-seeking patients also present with more complex diseases. Further studies are needed, focusing on asylum-seeking children with medical complexity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shib Shankar Kuiri ◽  
Bikash Chandra Ghosh ◽  
Nilay Mandal ◽  
Mintu Mohan Nandi ◽  
Tusar Kanti Saradar ◽  
...  

Aims and Objectives: We conducted a retrospective analysis among 1984 burn patients to study the incidence, prevalence of burn injury, its various types and modes (actual event behind the burn injury), risk factors and to find out the preventive measures.Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was carried out among 1984 patients having burn injuries, admitted in a tertiary care hospital of West Bengal, India over a period of nine years. The sources of information were the admission registers and the patients' folders from the medical records department. The Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee. The information obtained included age, sex, whether accidental or suicidal, etiology of burn injury and particularly the mechanism of injury. Results: Females were mostly affected (83%) in comparison to males. Among the study population, most of the burn patients were in the age group of 21-30yrs i.e. 35.3%. The number of burn patients were less in number in the age group of 11-20yrs i.e. 7.3%. Most of the burn injuries (87%) were accidental. Suicidal burns occurred in 10% cases. Of which about 1/3rd of the cases were due to dowry related issues.  A significant number of teenagers also attempted suicides due to trivial reasons (e.g. failure in examination, quarrelling with parents). Gas oven related injuries occurred in 2.7% cases. Oil lamps (‘kupi’), candles and hurricane-lanterns, diyas were also responsible to some extent in rural India for flame burns(5%). Smoking related burn injuries occurred in 1.7% cases. Scald injuries occurred in 14% cases. Chemical injuries (0.3%) were due to spillage of unlabelled bottles of acid/alkali. Electrical burn injury occurred in 4.9% cases. Conclusion: Burn injury prevention is not easy, but to avoid the significant morbidity and mortality following injury we have to prevent it by any means. A coordinated and dedicated approach among social workers , medical and paramedical personnel, administrators can only minimize the incidence of burn.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(1) 2015 70-75


Author(s):  
Twinkle Ann George ◽  
Asha A. V. ◽  
Risha Ravindran ◽  
Latha N. V.

Background: Snake bite is a neglected public health problem worldwide especially in the tropics. Studies on ocular manifestations are still fragmentary. The objective of the study was to find ocular manifestations among the snake bite cases with systemic envenomation admitted in the intensive care units in a tertiary care hospital in rural North Kerala, India during a period of 4 years from May 2012 to May 2016.Methods: It was a prospective, observational, cross sectional study. Institutional ethical committee approval was obtained for the study. A descriptive analysis of snake bite cases with systemic envenomation was done.  Other snake bites are excluded from the study. Patients who needed ophthalmological opinion for ocular symptoms were analyzed.Results: Total suspected snake bites admitted in ICUs during the study period were 638. Only 7 patients (1%) with haematotoxic envenomation needed ophthalmological opinion for ocular symptoms. Patients in the present study ranged between the age of 11 and 53. Ocular lesions diagnosed among the 6 patients who developed capillary leak syndrome, were bilateral angle closure glaucoma in 3 patients, pan uveitis, disc edema and retinal haemorrhages in 2 patients, bilateral macular oedema. Youngest patient had intracranial haemorrhage and bilateral orbital hemorrhage, leading to exposure keratitis. SAV was administered in all patients ranging from 11-30 vials. All the patients except the patient with orbital haemorrhage had a grave prognosis. Still only one of these patients expired on day 3, rest all patients had better vision and survived due to timely management.Conclusions: A timely intervention especially at the initial presentation of capillary leak syndrome, can decrease the morbidity and save the life of a patient.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Brandenberger ◽  
Christian Pohl ◽  
Florian Vogt ◽  
Thorkild Tylleskär ◽  
Nicole Ritz

Abstract Background Asylum-seeking children represent an increasing and vulnerable group of patients whose health needs are largely unmet. Data on the health care provision to asylum-seeking children in European contexts is scarce. In this study we compare the health care provided to recent asylum-seeking and non-asylum-seeking children at a Swiss tertiary hospital. Methods We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study in a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Basel, Switzerland. All patients and visits from January 2016 to December 2017 were identified, using administrative and medical electronic health records. The asylum-seeking status was systematically assessed and the patients were allocated accordingly in the two study groups. Results A total of 202,316 visits by 55,789 patients were included, of which asylum-seeking patients accounted for 1674 (1%) visits by 439 (1%) individuals. The emergency department recorded the highest number of visits in both groups with a lower proportion in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking children: 19% (317/1674) and 32% (64,315/200,642) respectively. The median number of visits per patient was 1 (IQR 1–2) in the asylum-seeking and 2 (IQR 1–4) in the non-asylum-seeking children. Hospital admissions were more common in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking patients with 11% (184/1674) and 7% (14,692/200,642). Frequent visits (> 15 visits per patient) accounted for 48% (807/1674) of total visits in asylum-seeking and 25% (49,886/200,642) of total visits in non-asylum-seeking patients. Conclusions Hospital visits by asylum-seeking children represented a small proportion of all visits. The emergency department had the highest number of visits in all patients but was less frequently used by asylum-seeking children. Frequent care suggests that asylum-seeking patients also present with more complex diseases. Further studies are needed, focusing on asylum-seeking children with medical complexity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1331
Author(s):  
Arvind Sood ◽  
Aman Rana ◽  
Pancham Kumar

Background: Pediatric snake bite cases are frequently encountered at health care centers of Himachal Pradesh. It is a medical emergency which require early hospitalisation and immediate medical intervention. This study determines the epidemiological and envenomation details along with clinical profile and management of pediatric snake bite patients in Himachal Pradesh, India.Methods: This prospective clinico-epidemiologic study included 30 paediatric snake bite cases reported at Department of Paediatrics, IGMC, Shimla. Demography, envenomation details, first aid and treatment, antivenom administration and outcome were recorded for all patients.Results: Of the total 30 cases, 56.6% were males and 43.3% were females. All patients were resident of rural areas and most of them belonged to middle socioeconomic status. Most (56.7%) snake bites occurred between 6pm to 12am and peak time was during rainy season. More cases of hemotoxic envenomation were observed as compared to neuroparalytic envenomation. Most common hematologic abnormalities were hematuria (4.8%) and epistaxis (4.8%). Respiratory paralysis, ptosis and opthalmoplegia were the most common presentation in patients with neuroparalytic envenomation. Clinical profile of patients showed thrombocytopenia (26.7%), prolonged PT/INR (76.6%) and 36.7% had prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. All symptomatic patients were given ASV as primary treatment out of which 79.2% patients required more than 10 vials of ASV. Most common complication observed in neuroparalytic envenomation was respiratory failure (33.3%) and in hemotoxic envenomation was coagulation failure (66.7%). Only 3.3% case fatality was observed in this study.Conclusions: Snake bite in children is a medical emergency in hilly state of Himachal Pradesh where people still follow traditional first aid methods and treatment protocol. A widespread awareness programme is needed to propagate the newly advised first aid methods to prevent mortality by early hospitalization and administration of ASV.


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