Epidemiological profile of snakebites in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001-2006

Abstract

All snakebites registered in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, between 2001 and 2006 were analyzed. Of these, the snake species involved was identified in 2,431 cases, most of which were caused by Bothrops (2,347). Most victims were male (78.4%) and the age group most frequently attacked was between 20 and 39 years (38.4%). As for severity, 1,118 (45.9%) were classified as minor, 748 (30.7%) as moderate, and 209 (8.6%) as severe. Progression towards complete cure occurred in 1,567 patients; 39 had sequelae; three died; and clinical outcomes were not monitored in 822 cases. The time between bite and first medical attention was less than three hours in 74.6% of cases. Most occurred in municipalities with vast areas of preserved Atlantic Forest: Angra dos Reis (208), Rio de Janeiro (197), Parati (186), Teresópolis (134), and Petrópolis (110). Accident frequency was highest between November and April, in which the daily average is practically twice that observed in other months. Although results show that Rio de Janeiro state has a good level of medical care, it could be improved by creating multidisciplinary teams that include doctors, biologists, and nurses. The Vital Network for Brazil helps to promote a stimulating environment for this type of training, with both traditional courses and distance learning. Training hours must be increased to improve the skills of professionals responsible for victim care.

Snakebite cases in the municipalities of the State of Paraiba, Brazil

“…The majority of systemic symptoms were hemorrhage (n=31; 28.4%), neuroparalytic manifestations (n=26; 23.8%), vagal manifestations (n=25; 23%), myolitic manifestations (n=17; 15.6%), and renal manifestations (n=10; 9.15%). These local and systemic symptoms were the same as those found in other studies carried out in the State of Paraíba 9,19 as well as in other regions of Brazil 6,23 . Headache was observed in 23 (17.3%) patients, which may be due to fear and emotional tension induced by the bite.…”

“…Knowledge of snake seasonality highlights the months in which there are higher risks of snakebites. This understanding is important because it alerts healthcare providers, helps establish strategies for the distribution and maintenance of antivenom stocks in health centers, and stimulates preventive education campaigns 6 . The increased number of snakebite cases during the rainy period was also observed in other areas of northeastern Brazil 10 as well as in the North 15 .…”

“…The economic impact of these injuries is considerable, especially because most victims are young 5 . The information regarding the incidence of snakebites per region, types of venom, deaths, and the consequences of envenomation are essential for evaluating the problem and developing public policies aimed at reducing the number of accidents and improving medical help for victims 6,7 . In spite of a number of previous investigations [8][9][10] , the epidemiology of snakebites in the Northeastern region of Brazil is not yet well understood, most likely due to social and environmental changes that have occurred there in recent decades, the underreporting of snakebite cases, and defi ciencies in collecting epidemiological data.…”

Perfil Epidemiológico Dos Acidentes Por Animais Peçonhentos Na Região Norte Entre Os Anos De 2012 E 2015

“…O segundo gênero mais frequente neste estudo foi o Lachesis, achado validado pelos estudos de Guimarães et al (2015) e Nascimento (2000), realizados no Pará e em Roraima, respectivamente. Entretanto, em levantamentos realizados nos estados do Amapá, Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro e Rio Grande do Sul, o gênero Crotalus foi o segundo mais envolvido em acidentes causados por serpentes 2,11,20,21 . Essa diferença pode ser justificada pela maior adaptabilidade do gênero Lachesis em ecossistemas tropicais úmidos, comumente encontrados na região Norte.…”

Incidence of snakebites from 2007 to 2014 in the State of São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, using a Bayesian time series model

“…Official data suggest that approximately 26,000 snakebites occur each year in Brazil (2) , although this number could be underestimated due to inadequacies in data collection and the large number of unreported cases (2) . Diffi culties in accessing health services could also contribute to the underreporting of snakebites (3) .…”