[Envenomation by Bothrops in the State of Bahia: epidemiological and clinical aspects].
This study describes the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 655 cases of Bothrops snakebites that were attended by and/or notified to the Bahia Antivenin Information Center, State of Bahia, Brazil, in 2001. The annual incidence in the State was 5.0 cases/100,000 inhabitants and lethality was 1%. The incidence was greatest in the North Coast microregion (21.9/100,000 inhabitants) and the municipality of Itanagra (92.9/100,000 inhabitants). The snakebites occurred predominantly during the day, affecting the lower limbs of men aged 11-30 years who worked in rural areas during the rainy period. Medical care was obtained more than 13 hours after the snakebite in 19% of the cases. Moderate (47.8%) and severe (23.6%) clinical presentations prevailed. The local and systemic clinical manifestations followed the usual pattern for Bothrops snakebites in Brazil. However, a few cases presented neurological manifestations, which are not usually attributed to Bothrops snakebites. The antivenin therapy used (7.7 blisters/patient) reflected the fact that the majority of the cases were moderate. Antivenins other than the univalent type were used in 2.3% of the cases.
Mise
Yukari Figueroa
YF
Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA. yukari@ufba.br
Lira-da-Silva
Rejâne Maria
RM
Carvalho
Fernando Martins
FM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017837:Bothrops; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms