Snakebites in the Americas: a Neglected Problem in Public Health

Abstract

Purpose of Review We explored the current priority given to snakebites in 26 countries of the Americas. To describe the epidemiological characteristics of the snakebites in the Americas and the Caribbean, we looked at information collected from epidemiological sources, publications, and available from PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS. In the case of Honduras, some gray literature (theses and conference abstracts) was obtained through local networks. We also aimed at obtaining any reference made in those reports with regard to the most common snake species in the region and their toxin and the physical and mental disability in snakebite victims. Recent Findings Many countries do not keep official reports of the snakebite incidents. In a few countries, growing knowledge of venom toxicology is leading to research and development of new antivenoms. Additionally, interest is increasing in the identification of natural treatment for symptoms caused by snake venoms, especially inflammation, pain, and blood loss. There are opportunities to undertake rigorous examination of traditional treatments, which could be incorporated to the standard of care. Summary Snakebite surveillance needs improvement in several countries, and access to prompt treatment needs to be facilitated. With a few exceptions, scientific research is scarce in most Latin American countries. For prevention and management initiatives, it is important to highlight that the typical profile of the snakebite victim is a young male farmer with low literacy.

The relationship and consequences of venomous animal encounters in the context of climate change

“…The majority of studies on venomous animals include data on snakebites, but other animals, including scorpions, bees, spiders, caterpillars, and marine animals (Chippaux, 2015), constitute a significant portion of the records worldwide. As this is a serious public health issue, the official reporting of cases is mandatory in many countries, including 17 nations in the American continent (Fernández & Youssef, 2023). This is a significant step for the prevention and implementation of mitigation measures for these accidents, given their importance for public health management.…”