title: Antisnakevenom: an over-used medication.
abstract: Fifty-five cases of snakebite were retrospectively analysed for the indications for the use of anti-snakevenom (ASV). Sixty-seven per cent of patients received treatment with ASV. Of these, 47% had features of systemic envenoming, 30% had features of local envenoming and 22% had no features of envenoming, either systemic or local. When WHO guidelines were strictly applied, it was found that in 44% of cases, ASV was used without adequate indication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Thachil
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tony
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jude
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sridhar
mesh_terms: D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins