Venomous Snakebites in Children in Southeast Turkey

Year 2021, Volume: 48 Issue: 4, 761 - 769, 01.12.2021

Arzu Oto Yusuf Kenan Haspolat

https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1037630

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Venomous Snakebites in Children in Southeast Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Due to the hot climate of the Southeastern Anatolia Region, snake poisoning is common, which causes serious mortality and morbidity. We aimed to present the clinical course, complications and treatment approaches of patients hospitalized with snakebites.
Methods: One-hundred and eight pediatric patients treated in the hospital for snakebites, excluding dry bite, were included in the study during a 5-year period. Gender, age, bite site, month, time, type of intervention in the field, symptoms, laboratory findings, complications, tetanus vaccination and antivenom administration were recorded by reviewing patient files.
Results: The patients were aged between 10.2+3 (2-15) years and 72 (66.7%) were males. Seventy-three (67.6%) of patients were from rural areas. The bites were mostly from the lower extremity, at between 12-18 o’clock. Grade 1 patients were excluded from the study. At the time of admission, there were 47 (43%) grade 2 and 31 (28%) grade 3 patients. It was observed that with increased grade, higher levels of white blood cell count, glucose level and hospital stay were seen (p<0.01), and the grade increased as the hospital admission time increased (p:0.024). A negative correlation was found between the length of hospital stay and the platelet level (p=0.016). The most common complications were tissue necrosis (13%) and compartment syndrome (9.2%). There was a positive correlation between grade and compartment syndrome (P=0.001). Antivenom was administered to 80 (74%) of patients.
Conclusion: Patients with snakebite poisoning should be transferred to the nearest emergency room quickly so that the management can be carried out in a timely manner. The signs of poisoning can affect not only the bitten area, but also all systems, causing multi-organ failure and even death. Therefore, patients should be frequently evaluated in terms of systemic findings. The efficacy of treatment is enhanced by aggressive supportive care and rapid administration of appropriate neutralizing antivenom.

Keywords

Child, snakebites, poisoning, treatment

References

• 1.Organization WH. Prevalence of snakebiteenvenoming. September 20, 2017.
• 2.Okur Mİ, Yıldırım AM, Köse R. Venomous snakebites and its therapy in Turkey. Turkiye KlinikleriJournal of Medical Sciences 2001; 21: 528.