Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity
Objectives: To identify the toxicity profile of snakebites and to assess clinical severity. Methods: An analysis of all patients admitted to Ngwelezane Hospital’s Emergency Department with a diagnosis of snakebite over five years was done. All patients were admitted, assessed and standard haematolo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2016-03-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5676 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234356336328704 |
|---|---|
| author | Darryl Wood Benjamin Sartorius Richard Hift |
| author_facet | Darryl Wood Benjamin Sartorius Richard Hift |
| author_sort | Darryl Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: To identify the toxicity profile of snakebites and to assess clinical severity.
Methods: An analysis of all patients admitted to Ngwelezane Hospital’s Emergency Department with a diagnosis of snakebite over five years was done. All patients were admitted, assessed and standard haematological and biochemical tests were done. Patients were observed for a minimum of 12 hours’ observation.
Results: In total, 879 cases were analysed. Envenomation was identified in over two-thirds of admissions. Cytotoxic snakebites accounted for 98% of envenomations. Only four cases of haemotoxic bleeding and five cases of neurotoxicity were admitted. Abnormal laboratory indices correlated with severity: INR 1.5 (odds ratio 2.25, CI 1.12–4.53; p = 0.023), platelets 100x109/L (OR 2.35, CI 1.01– 5.49; p = 0.048), haemoglobin concentration 8.0 g/dL (OR 5.68, CI 2.15–15.00; p 0.001) and leucocyte count 10x109 (OR 3.15, CI 1.89– 5.26, p 0.001). Children and delays to admission correlated to and were predictors of severity.
Conclusion: Two-thirds of patients who present to hospital with snakebite will have symptoms of envenomation, with the overwhelming majority having been bitten by cytotoxic species. Some factors correlate to severity and may be useful for anticipating the patient’s clinical course. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9eeea5446f734402b1fe73bd52909a7a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-9eeea5446f734402b1fe73bd52909a7a2025-08-20T04:03:12ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042016-03-0158210.4102/safp.v58i2.56764286Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severityDarryl Wood0Benjamin Sartorius1Richard Hift2Nelson Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; and Ngwelezane Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanSchool of Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanNelson Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaObjectives: To identify the toxicity profile of snakebites and to assess clinical severity. Methods: An analysis of all patients admitted to Ngwelezane Hospital’s Emergency Department with a diagnosis of snakebite over five years was done. All patients were admitted, assessed and standard haematological and biochemical tests were done. Patients were observed for a minimum of 12 hours’ observation. Results: In total, 879 cases were analysed. Envenomation was identified in over two-thirds of admissions. Cytotoxic snakebites accounted for 98% of envenomations. Only four cases of haemotoxic bleeding and five cases of neurotoxicity were admitted. Abnormal laboratory indices correlated with severity: INR 1.5 (odds ratio 2.25, CI 1.12–4.53; p = 0.023), platelets 100x109/L (OR 2.35, CI 1.01– 5.49; p = 0.048), haemoglobin concentration 8.0 g/dL (OR 5.68, CI 2.15–15.00; p 0.001) and leucocyte count 10x109 (OR 3.15, CI 1.89– 5.26, p 0.001). Children and delays to admission correlated to and were predictors of severity. Conclusion: Two-thirds of patients who present to hospital with snakebite will have symptoms of envenomation, with the overwhelming majority having been bitten by cytotoxic species. Some factors correlate to severity and may be useful for anticipating the patient’s clinical course.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5676snakebitecytotoxicneurotoxichaemotoxicenvenomationemergencykwazulu-natal |
| spellingShingle | Darryl Wood Benjamin Sartorius Richard Hift Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity South African Family Practice snakebite cytotoxic neurotoxic haemotoxic envenomation emergency kwazulu-natal |
| title | Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| title_full | Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| title_fullStr | Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| title_short | Snakebite in north-eastern South Africa: clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| title_sort | snakebite in north eastern south africa clinical characteristics and risks for severity |
| topic | snakebite cytotoxic neurotoxic haemotoxic envenomation emergency kwazulu-natal |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5676 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT darrylwood snakebiteinnortheasternsouthafricaclinicalcharacteristicsandrisksforseverity AT benjaminsartorius snakebiteinnortheasternsouthafricaclinicalcharacteristicsandrisksforseverity AT richardhift snakebiteinnortheasternsouthafricaclinicalcharacteristicsandrisksforseverity |