A cross-sectional study of various clinical and laboratory parameters in snakebite and their association with mortality at a tertiary care centre in Jharkhand.

BACKGROUND

Snakebite is a common occupational hazard in tropical countries such as India. India has the highest number of snakebites and accounts for nearly 50% of global snakebite deaths. Jharkhand is a state with abundant flora and fauna, with a large rural population, prone to snakebite deaths. We aimed to study various clinical and laboratory parameters in snakebite patients and their association with mortality.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted from October 2019 to April 2021. Snake-bitten individuals admitted in the in-patient department (General Medicine) of a tertiary care centre of Jharkhand state were included in this study. Information regarding gender, species of the snake, site of bite, symptoms (neurological and haematological), signs, reaction to ASVS, procedures performed (haemodialysis), general examinations, systemic examinations, and investigations were collected and analysed to predict mortality.

RESULTS

Out of 60 snakebite patients, 39 (65%) were males and 21 (35%) were females. Snakebite in 41.67% patients was because of unknown species, snakebite in 26.67% patients was because of Russell's viper, snakebite in 21.67% was because of krait, and snakebite in 10% was because of cobra. 41.67% of individuals sustained bites over the right leg, 23.33% over the left leg, 18.33% over the right arm, and 15% over the left arm. Mortality was seen in 8 (13.33%) patients. Haemorrhagic manifestations including haematuria and haemoptysis were seen in 10 (16.66%) and 3 (5%) patients, respectively. Neurological symptoms were present in 27 (45%) patients. In laboratory examination, the total leucocyte count, international normalised ratio, d-dimer, urea, creatinine, and amylase were significantly high in the non-survivor group (all values < 0.05). In this study, mortality was significantly associated with increased requirement of haemodialysis because of renal failure and an increase in duration of hospital stay ( value < 0.05). The duration of hospital stay independently predicts mortality with an odds ratio of 0.514 (95% confidence interval 0.328 to 0.805; = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Early evaluation of clinical and laboratory parameters is needed to identify various complications (haematological and neurological) as they may prolong the hospital stay, leading to an increase in mortality.