[Mortality from contact with poisonous snakes and lizards in Mexico from 1979 to 2003].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the trend of standardized mortality by contact with poisonous snakes and lizards in Mexico from 1979 to 2003.


METHODS
We describe the standardized mortality trend by contact with poisonous snakes and lizards occurring in Mexico from 1979 to 2003, and report the mortality data bases from the INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática). We determined frequencies, percentages, mortality rates, standardized mortality rates and mortality relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
The general trend shows a statistically significant descent of 63.8%. The highest mortality rate within the 2000-2003 period was reported in Quintana Roo (7.47/1,000,000), Oaxaca (4.01/1,000,000), Veracruz (1.56/1,000,000), Chiapas (1.48/1,000,000), Campeche (1.43/1,000,000) and Yucatan (1.29/1,000,000). The groups with the highest risk are those older than 60 years and males.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the detected decrease in mortality, the contact with poisonous snakes and lizards still is a public health problem in Mexico. As timely treatment saves lives, it is necessary to include and offer treatment in all emergency units of the country.
Frayre-Torres
María José
MJ
Residencia de Epidemiología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Sevilla-Godínez
Elizabeth
E
Orozco-Valerio
Maria de Jesús
Mde J
Armas
Jesús
J
Celis
Alfredo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000401:mortality*