District Hospital (DHQ) Capable to Treat Snake Bite Cases

Abstract

Objectives: 1. To  know the proportion of Haemotoxic and Nuerotoxic  snake bite cases admitted in DHQ Hospital. 
2. To  collect data  about victims and their  cure rate by ASV injectable serum. 
3. To determine that DHQ hospital is capable to treat snake bite victims or not. 
4. To  recommend  improvements for snake bite treatment on basis of this study. 
Design of Study: Cross sectional study. 
Place and duration of Study: This study was conducted at Medical ward of District Hospital Mirpurkhas, Sindh 
from January to December 2005 on snake bite cases. 
Patients and Methods: 135 patients of snake bite were taken in this study.  Patients were taken of both sexes and 
all ages. 
Inclusion Criteria: Only patients with snake bite history and clinical signs of bite fang punctures were included. 
Exclusion criteria: Snake bite cases with only history no fang puncture marks and no clinical envenomation signs 
or treated by private hospital or GPs were excluded. 
Results:  1. 135 Cases admitted during 12 months of the year 2005, 120 (86.2%) were male and 20 (14.8%) females 
(Table-1).  
2.  The age distribution of snake bite cases showed that 12 (8.9%) were small children age 01-04 years showing a 
miserable situation of neglect by mother and family. An other group 38 (28.1%) were also children aged between 05 -09 years, the third group is also children between 9-14 years, which is 20 (14.8%), there were 11 (8.1%) in teen age 
(15 to 19) years. There were 39 (28.9%) cases in age of 30 and above (Table-8). 
3.  The type or species of snake bite as stated by patients or their attendants revealed that 112 (83. 0%) said viper 
(lundi) have bitten which is haemotoxic and 23 (17.0%)  snake bite cases were bitten by Cobra ( Nanagor sanp) 
which is neurotoxic. 
4.  After ASV treatment all snake bite cases were cured, and no death or referral was reported. Hence DHQ hospitals 
are capable to deal with snake bite cases of all types. 
5.  Stock of ASV and supply in DHQ hospital was satisfactory as per data 134 (99.3%) cases when admitted. But for 
01 case it was not available. This shows that this Vaccine should be available in excess quantity. 
Conclusion: Snake bite is endemic and common public health problem in district Mirpurkhas adolescents and 
teenagers are bitten in large number but cure rate with Anti Snake Venom (ASV) injection is highly satisfactory, 
viper and cobra are frequently stated species present in Mirpurkhas. DHQ hospitals are capable to deal all the cases 
of snake bite. Anti snake Venom supplied in Pakistan is very effective against cobra and viper.