Clinical profile and outcome of snake bite in children at a tertiary care centre in South India

Introduction: Snake bite is an important public health problem in the rural tropics, resulting in envenomation and death.

Objectives: To study the clinical profile of snake bite at a tertiary care centre in South India, estimate its case fatality rate and estimate the prevalence of complications in children with snake bite.

Method: This was a retrospective, observational descriptive record based study conducted in a Medical College in South India between May 2011 and April 2020.

Results: A total of 160 snake bite patient case records over the last 10 years were evaluated out of which signs of envenomation were seen in 65 cases. The male: female ratio was 1.8:1. Peak age group affected was 6 to 15 years. Lower limbs were the most common site of snake bite. Pain and swelling at the site of bite were the most common symptoms of envenomation. Cellulitis and coagulopathy were the most common complications seen in our study. Anti-snake venom (ASV) was used in 65 cases and the average ASV required in local and systemic envenomation was 5 and 20 vials respectively. There was one death during the study period.

Conclusions: Lower limbs were the most common site of snake bite. Pain and swelling at the site of bite were the most common symptoms of envenomation. Cellulitis and coagulopathy were the most common complications. The case fatality rate was 0.6%.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(4): 704-708