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Antisnakevenom: an over-used medication
R T Thachil1, J C Tony, E Jude
1Department of Medicine, St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India.
Tropical Doctor
|July 1, 1992
Summary
This study found that anti-snakevenom (ASV) was overused in snakebite cases. Nearly half of ASV administrations lacked adequate justification according to World Health Organization guidelines, indicating potential for improved treatment protocols.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
- Herpetology
Background:
- Snakebite envenoming is a significant public health concern globally.
- The administration of anti-snakevenom (ASV) is critical for managing severe envenoming.
- Appropriate indications for ASV use are essential to optimize patient outcomes and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze indications for anti-snakevenom (ASV) use in snakebite cases.
- To evaluate the adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for ASV administration.
- To identify instances of ASV overuse in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 55 snakebite cases.
- Review of patient records to identify systemic and local envenoming features.
- Assessment of ASV administration against established WHO guidelines.
Main Results:
- Sixty-seven percent of analyzed snakebite patients received ASV.
- Among ASV recipients, only 47% showed systemic envenoming, 30% local envenoming, and 22% had no envenoming signs.
- Application of WHO guidelines revealed that 44% of ASV administrations lacked adequate indication.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of ASV use in snakebite management may not align with current WHO guidelines.
- There is a need to refine clinical decision-making for ASV administration to ensure appropriate use.
- Optimizing ASV indication criteria can improve patient care and resource management in snakebite treatment.