title: Snakebite in bedroom kills a physician in Cameroon: a case report.
abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies snake bites as neglected public health problem affecting mostly tropical and subtropical countries. In Africa there are an estimated 1 million snake bites annually with about half needing a specific treatment. Women, children and farmers in poor rural communities in developing countries are the most affected. Case management of snake bites are not adequate in many health facilities in developing countries where personnel are not always abreast with the new developments in snake bite management and in addition, quite often the anti-venom serum is lacking. We report the case of a medical doctor bitten by a cobra in the rural area of Poli, Cameroon while asleep in his bedroom. Lack of facilities coupled with poor case management resulted in a fatal outcome.
authors: Cameroon Society of Epidemiology, CaSE, Cameroon; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon; Division of Health Operations Research, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Cameroon; Laboratory of Public Health for Research Biotechnologies, Biotechnology Center, UY I, Cameroon.
authors: Armand
authors: A
authors: Nkwescheu
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon; Expanded Program of Immunization, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Cameroon; Central Africa Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (CAFELTP), Cameroon.
authors: Leopold Cyriaque Donfack
authors: LC
authors: Mbasso
authors: Cameroon Society of Epidemiology, CaSE, Cameroon; Expanded Program of Immunization, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Cameroon; Central Africa Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (CAFELTP), Cameroon; Centre Régional de Prévention et la Lutte contre les Epidémies pour le Centre (CERPLE- C), Cameroon.
authors: Franky Baonga Ba
authors: FB
authors: Pouth
authors: Department of Medicine, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
authors: Anastase
authors: A
authors: Dzudie
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon; National AIDS Control Committee of Cameroon, Central Technical Group, Cameroon.
authors: Serge Clotaire
authors: SC
authors: Billong
authors: Cameroon Society of Epidemiology, CaSE, Cameroon; Synergies Africaines pour les Souffrances contre le SIDA, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: Hermann
authors: H
authors: Ngouakam
authors: Cameroon Herpetology, Conservation Biology Foundation (CAMHERP-CBF), Cameroon; Global Viral Cameroon (GVC), Cameroon.
authors: Joseph Le Doux
authors: JL
authors: Diffo
authors: National Medical Council of Pharmacists of Cameroon(ONPC), Cameroon; Directorate of Pharmacy, Medicines and Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Cameroon.
authors: Hanny
authors: H
authors: Eyongorock
authors: Cameroon Society of Epidemiology, CaSE, Cameroon; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon; Laboratory of Public Health for Research Biotechnologies, Biotechnology Center, UY I, Cameroon.
authors: Wilfred
authors: W
authors: Mbacham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002163:Cameroon; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D012424:Rural Population; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms
keywords: Cameroon; Fatal snakebite; cobra; physician