title: Epidemiology of snakebite in a central region of Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this article is to acquire knowledge about the aspects of snakebite epidemiology in a central region of Brazil. From 1993 to 1995, 90 cases of Crotalinae (Bothrops and Crotalus genera) and two cases of Micrurus snakebite were attended to in a general hospital. Epidemiological information about 73 out of the 90 Crotalinae victims was prospectively collected from interviews with the patients and/or their companions. Data from medical records were obtained for the 17 remaining cases. The snakes of Bothrops, Crotalus, and Micrurus genera were responsible for 74, 24 and 2% of the accidents, respectively. Most of the Crotalinae accidents occurred from October to March (68%) and from 06:00 to 12:00 a.m. (93%). Males (89%) and patients between 20 and 30 years-old (27%) were the most common victims. The main bite sites were: foot (24%), leg (23%), hand (22%) and ankle (21%). Among the 73 interviewed Crotalinae victims, farm workers were bitten more frequently (53%). The accidents often occurred during work (59%), and 90% of the patients wore footwear, but 30% were wearing only sandals. Tourniquet, squeezing, suction of the bite site and magic blessing were attempted in 47, 38, 8 and 10% of cases, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clinica Medica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará 1720, 38400-902, MG, Uberlândia, Brazil.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D017837:Bothrops / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D017839:Crotalus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins