Demographic and Laboratory characteristics variations among snake envenomation patients- An Institutional study

Abstract

Introduction: The actual true worldwide burden of snake bite is not well known and documented because of high level of under reporting and serious misreporting. Snakes have always evoked a feeling of awe and curiosity, Knowledge regarding snakes and the effects of envenomation dates back to centuries. Aim: The primary aim of the study was to understand the demographic characteristics, details of clinical and laboratory risk factors predicting high disease severity in patients with snake envenomation to a tertiary care center, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational Cohort study with nested case control design. Every patient was subjected to a 20 min whole blood clotting time (20min WBCT) test at admission. Additional two citrated samples of 3 ml whole blood were taken at admission and 6 hours later from the patient along with the routine blood samples. Results: Analysis of Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory characteristics was done in the present study, demographic a detail of 72 patient’s shows information about Gender distribution of the patients showed males number was higher compared to females. The mean age of the study population was 40.78 years. The incidence of co morbidities as expected was less as the predominant population was between and 21-60 years. The predominant occupation among the study population comprised of farm labourers (34%) and farmers (29%). Among the identified species the most common species was Russell’s viper (31%, N=22) followed by krait (5%). Various baseline Clinical Parameters were also assessed among those the most clinical feature was pain at the bite sit which was present in 90.28% of the patients followed by local swelling which was seen in 87.5% of the population. Conclusion: Socio-demographic variables, clinical findings, treatment variables, ASV related data and mortality in our study was found to be consistent with the studies done earlier.