Outcome determinants of snakebites in North Bihar, India: a prospective hospital based study

Bihar is the state with the third largest number of snakebite deaths per year in India. This prospective, one-year study of 608 snakebites provides the first data from Bihar on determinants of unfavourable outcomes in snakebites. Any delay in reaching hospital raised the risk of a snakebite patient for an unfavourable outcome [OR 8.88, CI 2.04-38.8]. Attending a traditional practitioner prior to presenting to the hospital was the only specific, significant delay [OR 3.52, CI 1.26-9.7]. Prevention of unfavourable outcomes occurred by presenting to hospital in less than 1.5 hours [OR 0.23, CI 0.052-1.0]. Motorbike was the best mode of transport [OR 0.37, CI 0.12-1.1]. Other risk factors were patients aged under 15 years [OR 3.79, CI 1.57-9.12] and bites to the upper limb [OR 2.47, CI 1.01-6.04]. Patients who were envenomated had a higher risk of unfavourable outcome, if referred due to antivenom being unavailable [OR 12.2, CI 1.49-100]. To save lives, it is imperative that measures to reduce delays in getting patients to hospital must be included in snakebite management, alongside continued availability of antivenom and assisted ventilation.