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Descriptive epidemiology of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama, 2007-2008. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2018 Oct 01;112(10):463-466

Date

08/31/2018

Pubmed ID

30165536

DOI

10.1093/trstmh/try076

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85054895816 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Panama has the highest incidence of snakebites in Central America, however, few studies have looked at the epidemiology of human snakebites in Panama.

METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study reviewed individuals who sustained a snakebite from 2007-2008. Demographic data, disease severity, species of snake, treatment, infectious complications and antibiotic usage were collected from the hospital records.

RESULTS: Data were collected over a 2-y period, with a total of 390 records of snakebites. Bothrops asper was responsible for 43.8% of cases and the majority of the cases occurred during the rainy season. The majority of bites (74.7%) occurred on the hands, feet or toes. Antivenom was used in 55% of patients and 67% of patients received tetanus toxoid. Only 8.7% of individuals presented to the hospital within 1 h of envenomation and more than 25% presented >6 h after envenomation.

CONCLUSIONS: B. asper is responsible for the majority of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama. Snakebites tend to occur during the rainy season, with the majority of bites occurring on the feet. Several management factors need to improve in Panama: time to presentation, which is prolonged in the majority of cases, and antivenom, antibiotic and tetanus toxoid delivery should be standardized to optimize care.

Author List

Pecchio M, Suárez JA, Hesse S, Hersh AM, Gundacker ND

Author

Nathan D. Gundacker MD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antivenins
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Panama
Retrospective Studies
Snake Bites
Snakes
Species Specificity
Urban Renewal
Young Adult