Document Type : Case Series
Authors
Department of Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Background: Recognized by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease in 2009, snake bites continue to contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality in tropical countries. Maharashtra, experiences high incidence of snake bites due to its extensive agricultural activity. Based on clinical manifestations, snake bite envenomation is broadly classified as neurotoxic, vasculotoxic, or myotoxic.
Case presentation: This case series reports on 60 snakebite patients presenting to a district hospital in Bhandara, Northern Maharashtra, between May and July 2024. Cases were evaluated by clinical features, time to presentation, and offending snake species, with outcomes measured in terms of complication rates and mortality.
Discussion: In this series of 60 snakebite cases, mostly involving young rural males, early hospital presentation and prompt antivenom administration were linked to markedly better outcomes, achieving 85% complete recovery with a mortality rate of 1.6%. Neurotoxic bites (cobra, krait) and vasculotoxic bites (Russell’s viper) demonstrated distinct symptom profiles, with viper bites causing the highest complication rates. Delayed medical care, often due to traditional practices, significantly increased the risk of adverse outcomes.
Conclusion: This study highlights the significant impact of early intervention, species-specific envenomation patterns on the outcomes of victims. Timely presentation and prompt administration of antivenom were strongly associated with favorable clinical outcomes, while delays were linked to increased complications.
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