Assessment of Snakebite among Children: A Clinical-Epidemiological Study

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Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical-epidemiological study of snakebite among children.
Methods: This is a hospital based retrospective study, in which all the case records of patients admitted to the
Pediatrics department of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar, India from.
November 2018 to October 2019 were scrutinized. Patients≤12 years of age with definitive history of snake bite
were included and those with diagnosed bleeding/coagulation disorder, non-probability purposive sampling
method was used and the sample size was 103. Duration of study was one year.
Results: There were male predominance and most of the patients belonged to 5-8 years. The mean time taken to
reach Hospital following snakebite was 8.3 hours and mean time of administration of ASV following snakebite
was 12.7 hours. Out of 103 cases of snakebites, fang marks were present in 72 (70%) of cases, however only 60
cases developed features of envenoming and required ASV. 43(42%) cases were dry bites or due to non- poisonous
snakebites. The 20 minute Whole Blood Clotting Test was done in 82 cases. It was not done in cases where there
were already obvious bleeding manifestations. It was positive in only 28 cases (47.6%) of poisonous snakebites
and in 63.6% of vascular toxic snakebites (28/44). ASV was used in all poisonous cases. Most recovered with 10
vials.
Conclusion: Snakebite is an important cause of mortality. ASV, the only definitive treatment of envenoming
should be started as early as possible for the best outcome. Awareness among the common people to bring the
victims to hospital is therefore the need of the hour.