Abstract
Aim: To determine frequency of various toxicity patterns and outcome of snake bite cases at Nishtar Hospital Multan.
Study design: Cross sectional descriptive study.
Duration of study & place: From January 2014 to December 2014 at Nishtar Hospital Multan.
Method: There were 142 cases of snake bite included in the study, cases presented within 12 hours of history of snake bite and either snake was noticed by patient or fang marks present were included..
Results: Mean age of the participants was 33.08 +/- 10.23 years. Out of 142 cases 48.6% were in between 21- 30 years and 22.5% in 31-40 years. The site of snakebite was found to be lower limbs in 85.9% of the patients. The toxicity pattern was found to be hemotoxic in 65.5%, neurotoxic in 26.1% and myotoxic in 8.5% cases. 86.6% patients recovered, 11.3% disabled and demise occurred in 2.1%. Disability included amputation in18.7% cases, renal failure in 18.7%, stroke in 37.6% and other disabilities in 25% cases. Pattern of toxicity was found out to be hemotoxic in 63.2% in males versus 70.2% in females, neurotoxic in 27.4% versus 23.40% and myotoxic in 9.4% versus 6.4%) for males and females respectively. Patients recovered in 86.3% versus 87.2%, death occurred in 2.1% versus 2.2% and disability occurred in 11.6% vs 10.6% for males and females respectively (p-vlue=0.986).
Conclusion: Male gender was frequently involved at lower limbs with common pattern as hemotoxicity.