title: Snakebite and its socio-economic impact on the rural population of Tamil Nadu, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Snakebite represents a significant health issue worldwide, affecting several million people each year with as many as 95,000 deaths. India is considered to be the country most affected, but much remains unknown about snakebite incidence in this country, its socio-economic impact and how snakebite management could be improved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a study within rural villages in Tamil Nadu, India, which combines a household survey (28,494 people) of snakebite incidence with a more detailed survey of victims in order to understand the health and socio-economic effects of the bite, the treatments obtained and their views about future improvements. Our survey suggests that snakebite incidence is higher than previously reported. 3.9% of those surveyed had suffered from snakebite and the number of deaths corresponds to 0.45% of the population. The socio-economic impact of this is very considerable in terms of the treatment costs and the long-term effects on the health and ability of survivors to work. To reduce this, the victims recommended improvements to the accessibility and affordability of antivenom treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Snakebite has a considerable and disproportionate impact on rural populations, particularly in South Asia. This study provides an incentive for researchers and the public to work together to reduce the incidence and improve the outcomes for snake bite victims and their families.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sakthivel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaiyapuri
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaiyapuri
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashokan
authors.forename: Karthikeyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Kameshwaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nattamaisundar
authors.forename: Anburaj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeyaraj
authors.forename: Viswanathan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Prabu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gajjeraman
authors.forename: M Fazil
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Baksh
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gibbins
authors.forename: E Gail
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult