title: Challenges in diagnosing and treating snakebites in a rural population of Tamil Nadu, India: The views of clinicians.
abstract: Snakebites cause death, disability and economic devastation to their victims, people who live almost exclusively in rural areas. Annually an estimated two million venomous bites cause as many as 100,000 deaths worldwide as well as hundreds of thousands of deformities and amputations. Recent studies suggest that India has the highest incidence of snakebite and associated deaths worldwide. In this study, we interviewed 25 hospital-based clinicians who regularly treat snakebites in Tamil Nadu, India, in order to gauge their opinions and views on the diagnostic tools and treatment methods available at that time, the difficulties encountered in treating snakebites and improvements to snakebite management protocols they deem necessary. Clinicians identified the improvement of community education, training of medical personnel, development of standard treatment protocols and improved medication as priorities for the immediate future.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Harry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Reading Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaiyapuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Prabu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gajjeraman
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gibbins
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bicknell
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, UK. Electronic address: s.vaiyapuri@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sakthivel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaiyapuri
mesh_terms: D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D012424:Rural Population; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins
keywords: ASV; Anti-venom; Big four; Snakebite; Venom