title: A profile of fatal snake bite cases in the Bankura district of West Bengal.
abstract: Deaths due to snake envenomation are considered as a public health problem in rural India. The scenario is no different in Bankura district of West Bengal. 86 cases of deaths due to snake bites were recorded during a three year period from January 2006 to December 2008. Nearly 60% of the victims were in the age group of 21-40 years and males comprised 60.47% of the cases. Majority of the incidences occurred during the monsoons and during day time. The present study also highlights the sociological impact and suggests certain preventive measures to reduce snake bite mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic and State Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura 722102, West Bengal, India. chattopadhyaydrs@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sukul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000401:mortality*