Evaluation of Clinical Profile and Complications Associated with Snake Bite among Such Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Saleem Khurram , Butt Usman Shahid , Mehmood Ijaz , Azeem Muhammad Tariq , Aziz Ijaz , Rana Salman Pervaiz 
Published: May 2024

Background: Snakebite occurs in Pakistan ofently mostly an occupational infection like farmers, plantation workers, fishers, and even among wildlife park rangers and military personnel. Monsoons are essential to farming, and most farmers are from lower-income backgrounds. Snake bite morbidity and fatality rates are species- and time-specific. The sufferers are often from lower socioeconomic classes, despite the absence of evidence to support their usage in the treatment of snake bite poisoning. Snake bites may be fatal if not treated quickly, thus having accurate data on the frequency and severity of these incidents is crucial for both diagnosis and policymaking. So, the study focuses on the evaluation of clinical profile and complications associated with snake bite among such patients at a tertiary care hospital. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify potential contributors to snake bite occurrences and also to determine the mortality and morbidity rates associated with snakebites and how they vary by snake species, venom type, bite location, and anti-venom use. Study Design: Observational Retrospective Study. Settings: This study is conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan. Duration: One year from Jan 2022 to Dec 2022. Methods: Both sexes from any age group and only suspected of snake bite were included. The poison illness other than snake bite were excluded from the study. Tertiary care facilities located in Pakistan included 150 snake bite cases were studied retrospectively between (study period). Using hospital records, researchers were able to learn specifics about snakebite-related mortality and morbidity, such as the species of snake if known, the method of envenomation, the victim's age, sex, residence, occupation, bite site, bite location, clinical manifestations of snakebite, initial treatment, and antivenom use.  The admission and death registry were used to compile the historical record of data. Results: There were 96 male and 57 female enrolled in the study. The afternoon had the highest rate of bites (47% during the day), followed by the morning (28%), for a total of 78.5% during the day and 26.5% during the night. Seventy-five percent of the victims were alert when they were taken to the hospital, and most stayed there for between three and ten days as part of their surveillance, improvement, and recovery. The ages have been divided into different groups and we found that majority were from between 30 to 40 years. Pain, swelling, bleeding, tingling, numbness, and a blackened discoloration of the skin were all seen locally in 92 percent of the cases. Conclusion: Surveillance of envenomation’s is crucial for defining standards, arranging therapeutic supplies, and teaching medical personnel on Snakebite treatment since under-reporting of Snake bite occurrences has led to variances in observed rates of it. In addition, it has been noted that snake bites continue to be a significant occupational (farming) danger for people of working age, particularly men, in rural areas.