Annual incidence of snake bite in rural bangladesh

Background

Snake bite is a neglected public health problem in the world and one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in many areas, particularly in the rural tropics. It also poses substantial economic burdens on the snake bite victims due to treatment related expenditure and loss of productivity. An accurate estimate of the risk of snake bite is largely unknown for most countries in the developing world, especially South-East Asia.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We undertook a national epidemiological survey to determine the annual incidence density of snake bite among the rural Bangladeshi population. Information on frequency of snake bite and individuals'' length of stay in selected households over the preceding twelve months was rigorously collected from the respondents through an interviewer administered questionnaire. Point estimates and confidence intervals of the incidence density of snake bite, weighted and adjusted for the multi-stage cluster sampling design, were obtained. Out of 18,857 study participants, over one year a total of 98 snake bites, including one death were reported in rural Bangladesh. The estimated incidence density of snake bite is 623.4 / 100,000 person years (95% C I 513.4–789.2 /100,000 person years). Biting occurs mostly when individuals are at work. The majority of the victims (71%) receive snake bites to their lower extremities. Eighty-six percent of the victims received some form of management within two hours of snake bite, although only three percent of the victims went directly to either a medical doctor or a hospital.

Conclusions/Significance

Incidence density of snake bite in rural Bangladesh is substantially higher than previously estimated. This is likely due to better ascertainment of the incidence through a population based survey. Poor access to health services increases snake bite related morbidity and mortality; therefore, effective public health actions are warranted.     

Snake Bite in South Asia: A Review

Snake bite is one of the most neglected public health issues in poor rural communities living in the tropics. Because of serious misreporting, the true worldwide burden of snake bite is not known. South Asia is the world''s most heavily affected region, due to its high population density, widespread agricultural activities, numerous venomous snake species and lack of functional snake bite control programs. Despite increasing knowledge of snake venoms'' composition and mode of action, good understanding of clinical features of envenoming and sufficient production of antivenom by Indian manufacturers, snake bite management remains unsatisfactory in this region. Field diagnostic tests for snake species identification do not exist and treatment mainly relies on the administration of antivenoms that do not cover all of the important venomous snakes of the region. Care-givers need better training and supervision, and national guidelines should be fed by evidence-based data generated by well-designed research studies. Poorly informed rural populations often apply inappropriate first-aid measures and vital time is lost before the victim is transported to a treatment centre, where cost of treatment can constitute an additional hurdle. The deficiency of snake bite management in South Asia is multi-causal and requires joint collaborative efforts from researchers, antivenom manufacturers, policy makers, public health authorities and international funders.     

毒蛇咬伤致急性呼吸衰竭38例救治分析

目的探讨毒蛇咬伤致急性呼吸衰竭的发病机制和治疗措施。方法选择毒蛇咬伤患者38例,应用抗蛇毒血清、机械通气等综合治疗。结果经综合救治措施治疗,38例全部痊愈出院。结论综合救治措施是抢救毒蛇咬伤致急性呼吸衰竭最有效的方法。     

毒蛇咬伤的预防及院前急救调查与分析

目的了解蛇伤患者对蛇咬伤的预防知识及院前自救情况,为指导蛇伤防护工作提供依据。方法随机抽取我院2010～2011年急诊收治的173例蛇伤患者,通过问卷调查及交谈法,了解蛇伤患者对蛇习性、防护措施、蛇咬伤后的反应及处理情况。结果蛇伤患者对蛇习性了解情况不乐观,采取防护措施不到位,急救处理不科学。结论应加强蛇伤防护工作的宣传,改善院前急救情况。     

龙岩市急诊蛇伤流行病学特征与综合救治

目的探讨龙岩市急诊蛇伤流行病学特征和综合救治措施。方法回顾性分析我院2006-2011年资料完整的458例蛇伤住院患者的临床资料。结果458例急诊蛇伤患者中,死亡6例,病死率1．3％,致伤蛇种以竹叶青蛇、烙铁头、眼镜蛇、银环蛇、眼镜王蛇为主,近年来还发现一些罕见蛇类如白头蝰蛇、红脖颈槽蛇咬伤病例;掌握了我市蛇伤的发病季节、致伤人群、致伤部位及转归。结论初步掌握了龙岩市急诊蛇伤流行病学特征,并提出了有效的综合救治措施,为今后开展蛇伤的防治、教学、科研提供了科学依据。     

儿童毒蛇咬伤的特点与程序化救治的疗效观察

目的通过分析儿童毒蛇咬伤的特点,评价程序化综合救治方法对儿童毒蛇咬伤的疗效。方法通过观察17例毒蛇咬伤儿童的临床特点,尽早进行病情预测,同时根据毒蛇咬伤的临床病情分型予程序化综合救治。监测病情变化、伤口愈合情况及平均住院时间。结果儿童毒蛇咬伤的特点为不明种类毒蛇咬伤多,症状较成人严重,易发生并发症。经过早期程序化综合救治总有效率100%,伤口渗血、肿胀明显缓解,无1例死亡,平均留观时间4.5天。结论根据儿童毒蛇咬伤特点,早期准确预测和尽快应用程序化救治能提高毒蛇咬伤疗效。     

Snake bite envenomation in Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia over the period (2005–2010)

The present investigation is a retrospective review of snake bites in Riyadh province over the period (2005–2010). A total of 1019 cases of bites admitted to the Ministry of Health medical centers in Riyadh province were analyzed on the basis of age, sex, time of bite and its site on the body, outcome of treatment, antiserum dose and type of snake. Bites occurred throughout the six years with the highest frequency in 2005 and least in 2006 where most of the bite cases were mild and all evolved to cure except four patients who died following the administration of antivenom during 24 h after snake bite. Most of the patients were males (81.7%) and the most attacked age was within the range of 11–30 years (51.5%). All the bites were mainly in the exposed limbs and the most frequently bitten anatomical regions were the lower limbs (427 cases, 41.9%), principally the feet. The study incriminates Cerastes cerastes gasperettii in most of the bites indicating it as the snake of medical importance in Riyadh province. Also, the study indicates low degree of threat in spite of high rate of snake bites as a result of the availability of the medical facilities and the antivenin use in medical centers in Riyadh province.     

竹叶青蛇咬伤中毒机制及临床研究新进展

竹叶青的毒素成分主要为血液毒素.被竹叶青蛇咬伤后的主要临床表现为出凝血功能障碍,其中最突出的表现是纤维蛋白原(Fib)严重消耗.根据2018年中国蛇伤救治专家共识,在治疗竹叶青蛇咬伤时,主要治疗措施有抗蛇毒血清的应用以及消肿止痛、预防破伤风、使用糖皮质激素等,并根据患者纤维蛋白原情况使用血制品如"新鲜冰冻血浆"及"冷沉...     

Immunodiagnosis of Snake Bite

Management of a patient with snake bite is influenced by the nature of the offending snake. Species diagnosis based on the patient''s history and physical signs is often unreliable and the possibility of making a species diagnosis by immunological means has therefore been investigated. Wound aspirates, blister fluids, sera, and urine samples from patients with snake bite were examined for the presence of species-specific venoms using immunodiffusion. A positive species diagnosis was made in 40 out of 101 patients. Immunodiagnosis was especially successful in patients bitten by the puff adder, Bitis arietans, and the African spitting cobra, Naja nigricollis. A higher success rate could probably be achieved using more specific antisera and more sensitive assay techniques.     

Proteomic tools against the neglected pathology of snake bite envenoming

This article covers the application of proteomic tools ('venomics', 'antivenomics' and 'venom phenotyping') to study the composition and natural history of snake venoms, and the cross-reactivity of antivenoms with homologous and heterologous venoms, to help address the neglected pathology of snake bite envenoming. The identification of evolutionary and immunological trends may help to replace the traditional geographic- and phylogenetic-driven hypotheses for antivenom production strategies with a more rational approach based on proteome phenotype and immunological profile similarities. Antivenomics and venom phenotyping may also contribute to expand the clinical range of currently existing antidotes.     

Proteomic tools against the neglected pathology of snake bite envenoming

This article covers the application of proteomic tools (‘venomics’, ‘antivenomics’ and ‘venom phenotyping’) to study the composition and natural history of snake venoms, and the cross-reactivity of antivenoms with homologous and heterologous venoms, to help address the neglected pathology of snake bite envenoming. The identification of evolutionary and immunological trends may help to replace the traditional geographic- and phylogenetic-driven hypotheses for antivenom production strategies with a more rational approach based on proteome phenotype and immunological profile similarities. Antivenomics and venom phenotyping may also contribute to expand the clinical range of currently existing antidotes.     

蛇毒清合剂治疗金环蛇咬伤的疗效观察

目的观察蛇毒清合剂对金环蛇咬伤的临床疗效。方法将71例病人分为治疗组35例,对照组36例。两组均给予常规治疗,治疗组加服蛇毒清合剂,并比较两组患者伤后48h的血清酶学三项（CK、LDH、AST）及治疗5天后的疗效、治疗结束时的疗程及呼吸衰竭发生率。结果两组患者临床疗效比较有显著性差异,治疗组优于对照组（P〈0．05）,酶学三项和疗程、呼吸衰竭发生率均有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。结论蛇毒清合剂对金环蛇咬伤有显著疗效。     

三七皂苷对蛇伤致全身炎症反应综合征的影响

目的探讨三七皂苷对毒蛇咬伤致全身炎症反应综合征的影响。方法将60例毒蛇咬伤病人按随机双盲的原则分为两组,治疗组(A组)30例采用常规治疗加用三七皂苷,对照组(B组)30例采用常规治疗。观察两组病人在治疗过程中心率、血压、血常规、体温等的变化,并进行比较。结果A组病人心率、血压、血常规、体温等在治疗过程中的变化均优于B组。结论三七皂苷对毒蛇咬伤病人的全身炎症反应综合征有拮抗作用,有利于蛇伤病人器官功能不全的预防与治疗。     

危型竹叶青蛇伤性DIC的救治

目的：通过比较单纯中医药治疗与抗蛇毒血清及中西医结合救治方法,观察竹叶青蛇伤性DIC患者的疗效。方法：用抗蛇毒血清、立止血及中西医结合的方法。从1996年8月至2002年9月,共收治危型竹叶青蛇伤性DIC患者25例。结果：25例均治愈。结论：抗蛇毒血清的早期应用是有效方法。抗五步蛇毒血清或抗蝮蛇毒血清和立止血合用,可以对竹叶青蛇毒的出血毒素和促凝毒性起较好的中和作用。     

基于动物学、临床医学跨界研究快速准确诊断1例不明蛇类咬伤的分析

目的 探讨动物学、临床医学跨界研究成果联合运用于快速准确诊断不明蛇类咬伤中的作用及效果.方法 通过回顾性分析1例不明蛇类咬伤患者的临床资料,从病史、动物学生活习性、咬痕鉴别、流行病学、临床表现、蛇类动物学分布6个方面进行剖析不明蛇类咬伤的诊断思路与方法.结果 该例蛇伤患者的病史特征以及诊断与鉴别诊断:(1)病史特征符合...     

Acute Myocardial Infarction following a possible direct intravenous bite of Russell's viper (Daboia russelli)

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Russell's viper (Daboia russelli) bites lead to high morbidity and mortality in South Asia. Although variety of clinical manifestations is reported in viper bite victims, myocardial ischemic events are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a unique case of inferior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction due to a Russell's viper bite over a vein with possible direct intravenous envenoming, in a young male with no past history or family history suggestive of ischemic cardiac disease, from Sri Lanka. In addition, the possible mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in snake bite victims are also briefly discussed. CONCLUSION: Importance of the awareness of physicians on the rare, yet fatal manifestations of snake envenoming is highlighted.     

血必净注射液联合季德胜蛇药片救治烙铁头蛇咬伤的临床分析

目的研究血必净注射液联合季德胜蛇药片救治烙铁头蛇咬伤的临床效果。方法将我院收治的69例烙铁头蛇咬伤患者随机分为治疗组34例和对照组35例,两组患者均给予季德胜蛇药片治疗,治疗组同时加用血必净注射液治疗,观察比较两组治疗效果。结果治疗组的痊愈时间、肢体消肿时间均短于对照组,而且凝血功能指标、血小板计数均优于对照组,差异均具有显著统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论血必净注射液联合季德胜蛇药片救治烙铁头蛇咬伤的临床效果显著,有利于减轻患者中毒症状,并能有效缩短痊愈时间,改善凝血功能,增加血小板数量,值得临床推广运用。     

Snake venom as therapeutic agents: from toxin to drug development

Snake bite injuries and death are socio-medical problems of considerable magnitude. In India a large number of people suffer and die every year due to snake venom poisoning. Snake venom, though greatly feared, is a natural biological resource, containing several components that could be of potential therapeutic value. Use of snake venom in different pathophysiological conditions has been mentioned in Ayurveda, homeopathy and folk medicine. It is well known that snake venom is complex mixture of enzymes, peptides and proteins of low molecular mass with specific chemical and biological activities. Snake venom contains several neurotoxic, cardiotoxic, cytotoxic, nerve growth factor, lectins, disintrigrins, haemorrhagins and many other different enzymes. These proteins not only inflict death to animals and humans, but can also be used for the treatment of thrombosis, arthritis, cancer and many other diseases. An overview of various snake venom components that have prospects in health and diseases are discussed in this review.     

Toxicities, LD50 prediction and in vivo neutralisation of some elapid and viperid venoms.

Toxicity levels of elapid (Naja naja and Naja oxiana) viperid (Vipera lebetina and Vipera russelli) venoms for mice and rat for intraperitoneal intravenous and intramuscular routes have been determined. The data have been analysed using a mathematical expression to calculate lethal venom concentrations in human snake bite cases. Further, in vivo neutralisation of snake venom potency (after experimental injection) using high voltage-low current electric shock treatment has been attempted. This treatment postponed the death further by 60-90 min in mice in case of elapid envenomation. In case of viperid envenomation such a postponement of death time was not noticed. The death postponement induced by the shock treatment probably refers to structural impairments that occur at molecular level in venom components and their consequent altered interactions with the target tissue or system.     

Bites by foreign venomous snakes in Britain.

In 1970-7 17 people in Britain were the victims of 32 bites by foreign venomous snakes. Crotalus atrox caused eight of these bites, Bitis arietans five, and the remaining 19 bites were caused by 12 different species. All the victims were bitten while handling the snake, and 24 bites were incurred by private individuals in their own homes. Poisoning was negligible in 17 of the 32 bites but life-threatening in at least two cases. Thus in the early stages snake bite may be unpredictable as a clinical problem. All victims of snake bite should be observed for at least 12 hours to assess the severity of poisoning and to ensure rational treatment. Local necrosis developed in six cases and resulted in prolonged illness in five of these cases; local incision was carried out and many have been a casual factor. Comprehensive stocks of antivenoms for treating bites by foreign venomous snakes are held by the National Health Services in Liverpool and London. Antivenom is indicated (a) for potentially serious systemic poisoning, as evidenced by hypotension, electrocardiographic changes, neurtrophilia, and acidosis (after viper or elapid bites), abnormal bleeding or non-clotting blood after viper bites; and ptosis or glossopharyngeal palsy after elapid bites; and (b) for bites from snakes whose venom causes local necrosis, to prevent or minimise this unpleasant complication. For effective antivenom treatment intravenous infusion is mandatory.