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Snake bites in north east Sri Lanka
J S Whitehall1, Yarlini, Arunthathy
1The Townsville Hospital, Queensland Health, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. john_whitehall@health.qld.gov.au
Rural and Remote Health
|December 18, 2007
Summary
Despite challenges in Sri Lanka, effective snake bite management protocols, including antivenom and adrenaline, were maintained. Public knowledge and established procedures compensated for infrastructure issues, though future challenges loom.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Toxicology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Snake bite is a significant public health issue in Sri Lanka.
- Decades of conflict and economic sanctions have complicated snake bite management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the management of snake bites in north-east Sri Lanka.
- To analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of snake bite victims.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 303 snake bite cases from 2005.
- Analysis of victim demographics, envenomation signs, snake species, and treatment protocols.
Main Results:
- Common symptoms included local response (145), prolonged clotting time (134), ptosis (46), and respiratory failure (5).
- Saw-scaled vipers were the most frequently identified snake (42).
- Most victims (262) received treatment within 3 hours; 183 were given antivenom, with 70 experiencing adverse reactions managed effectively.
Conclusions:
- Public knowledge and established management protocols, including adrenaline use, mitigated challenges posed by limited medical resources.
- Civil disruption and economic sanctions impacted snake bite management.
- The established protocol compensated for shortages in medical staff and infrastructure.
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