title: Clinico-Epidemiological Profile of Snakebite Cases Admitted in a Tertiary Care Centre in South India: A 5 Years Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the clinic-epidemiological profile of snakebite cases admitted at a Tertiary Care Centre in South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A record based retrospective study was carried out at Kasturbha Medical College affiliated hospitals in Mangalore. All the snakebite cases admitted to the hospitals from January 2007 to December 2011 were included in the study. Data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 11.5). The results are expressed as percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 198 cases of snakebite victims. The majority of the cases were males (68.2%). The mean age of the study population was 34.8 years. Maximum numbers of snakebite cases were reported during the month of September to December (47.9%). The peak time of snakebite was between 18.01 and 24.00 h which was reported in 40.5% of the cases. Lower extremities were the most common site of bite in more than three-fourth of the cases (80.9%). The most common symptoms were a pain (45.9%) and swelling (44.9%). The case fatality rate was observed to be 3.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Snakebite still remains a major public health problem in this part of the world. Knowledge must be imparted regarding the prevention of snakebites through community health programs. Messages regarding prompt reporting of such cases and importance of effective treatment must be disseminated among people through mass media and role plays.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Rekha
authors: R
authors: Thapar
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Darshan
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Bhaskaran
authors: B
authors: Unnikrishnan
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Prasanna
authors: P
authors: Mithra
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Nithin
authors: N
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Vaman
authors: V
authors: Kulkarni
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Ramesh
authors: R
authors: Holla
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Avinash
authors: A
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Tanuj
authors: T
authors: Kanchan
keywords: Mangalore; South India; public health; snakebite