Prevalence and Outcome of Snake Bites Among Children Admitted in the Emergency Pediatric Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction Snakebites are common and constitute an important health problem in many countries of the world, with the greatest burden occurring in rural areas of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. They were classified by the World Health Organization as category A of neglected tropical diseases. Most studies on snake envenoming in Nigeria were among adult populations with few among children. This study assessed the prevalence and outcome of snakebite among children in Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi. Methods This was a four-year retrospective study in which the medical records of patients with managed snakebite were reviewed. A study proforma was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, site of the bite, features of envenoming, pre-hospitalization intervention, hospital treatment, length of hospitalization, and outcome of treatment of the patients. Results There were 19 snakebite cases out of 5,195 admissions during the period under review, giving a prevalence of 0.0037 (3.7/1000) with a male:female ratio of 2:1. The majority (66.7%) of the children were aged between 11 and 15 years and the mean (± SD) age of the study population was 10.5 (± 3.3) years. The lower limb was the site of bite in 10 (55.6%) of the patients and clinical features included local pain (100%), local swelling of varying magnitude (16 (88.9%)), spontaneous bleeding eight (44.4%) among others. Ten (55.65%) patients presented after four hours of bite and the mean (±SD) duration of hospitalization was 2.11 (±0.58) days. Most (77.8%) received at least one form of pre-hospital care while only 66.7% received polyvalent anti-snake venin. The case fatality rate was 5.6% while 55.6% of patients signed against medical advice. Conclusion There was a low hospital prevalence of snakebite in children in the present study location with associated low mortality but a high rate of discharge against medical advice. Most of the patients had a pre-hospital intervention and anti-snake venin is not readily accessible.

Health care workers’ knowledge on identification, management and treatment of snakebite cases in rural Malawi: A descriptive study

“…Studies done in Nepal and Nigeria showed that snakebite in children could have higher mortality, owing to the lower volume of distribution relative to the amount of venom injected [ 68 , 69 ]. Case fatality in our study was low (<2%), which is in line with many findings from studies done in tropical and subtropical countries [ 70 – 72 ], and none of those who died were aged less than 18 years. We found a slightly high number of female snakebite victims, which may be due to a higher exposure during daily activities such as fetching water, firewood and farming that usually happen early in the morning or late in the evening.…”

Pattern and Trends in Adult Hospitalization/Admission and Mortality Among Medical Ward Inpatients at Gadarif Hospital in Eastern Sudan: A Four-Year Retrospective Study

“…29 Moreover, there was a low prevalence (0.0037 or 3.7/1000, 19 snakebite cases out of 5195 admissions) of snakebites among children admitted in Nigeria. 30 However, the case fatality rate was 5.6% among these children. 30 Interestingly, in Kenya, 382 community respondents reported that 9.1% of bitten community members and 14.6% of bitten family members died from snakebites.…”

“… 30 However, the case fatality rate was 5.6% among these children. 30 Interestingly, in Kenya, 382 community respondents reported that 9.1% of bitten community members and 14.6% of bitten family members died from snakebites. 31 Thus, it seems that snakebite is a neglected health problem in Sudan and more effort is required to address this problem.…”