Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore, India.
Singapore Med J. 2012 Mar;53(3):203-7.
Snakebite is an important and preventable health hazard. Viper bites are more common than other poisonous snakebites in human beings. The present study aimed to collate the victim profile of viper bite cases in the region and to determine the pattern, manifestations, complications and the associated risk factors of these bites.
This was a prospective study of viper bite cases admitted to Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India between August 2003 and November 2005. The demographic and clinical details of each case were obtained from the patients, their relatives and the patients' hospital records, and analysed.
A total of 31 viper bite cases were reported during the study period. The victims were predominantly male and aged 25-55 years. The highest number of cases occurred during daytime in the months of September and October, which coincided with the harvesting season, and involved the lower limbs. 94% of the snakebite victims were farmers, suggesting that this was an occupational hazard. Envenomation was observed in patients with scratch marks, suggesting the importance of keeping the victim under observation in all alleged snakebite cases, even in the absence of clear fang marks. The mortality rate in our study was 6.5%.
Immobilising and transporting snakebite victims to the hospital and prompt administration of anti-snake venom remain the best way to reduce morbidity and mortality. It is also important to practise correct first aid measures, as otherwise they may cause more harm than good.
蛇咬伤是一种重要且可预防的健康危害。在人类中，蝮蛇咬伤比其他毒蛇咬伤更为常见。本研究旨在整理该地区蝮蛇咬伤患者的个人资料，并确定这些咬伤的模式、表现、并发症及相关危险因素。
这是一项对 2003 年 8 月至 2005 年 11 月期间在印度芒格洛尔卡斯特巴医院住院的蝮蛇咬伤患者进行的前瞻性研究。从患者、患者亲属和患者的住院记录中获取每位患者的人口统计学和临床详细信息，并进行分析。
在研究期间共报告了 31 例蝮蛇咬伤病例。受害者主要为男性，年龄在 25-55 岁之间。最多的病例发生在 9 月和 10 月的白天，这与收获季节相吻合，且涉及下肢。94%的蛇咬伤受害者是农民，表明这是一种职业危害。有划痕的患者出现了中毒症状，这表明即使没有明显的毒牙痕迹，在所有疑似蛇咬伤的情况下，仍有必要对受害者进行观察，以确保安全。在我们的研究中，死亡率为 6.5%。
对蛇咬伤患者进行固定和运输到医院，并及时给予抗蛇毒血清，仍然是降低发病率和死亡率的最佳方法。正确的急救措施也很重要，否则可能弊大于利。
