Epidemiology of snakebites in Kuwait

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Snakebite envenomation represents a significant public health concern globally.
• Limited data exists on snakebite epidemiology in Kuwait, a region with diverse reptile fauna.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed snakebite cases in Kuwait from 2015 to 2019.
• To identify demographic patterns, seasonal trends, and age distribution of snakebite victims.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of confirmed snakebite cases reported in Kuwait between 2015 and 2019.
• Data collection included victim demographics (age, sex) and temporal occurrence of bites.

Main Results:

• A total of 52 snakebite cases were recorded.
• The male to female ratio was approximately 2:1.
• The majority of victims (84.6%) were aged 1-20 years, with a smaller proportion (14.4%) over 30 years.
• Snakebites showed seasonal peaks in July (17.3%) and October (23.1%), with the lowest incidence in March.

Conclusions:

• Snakebite incidents in Kuwait disproportionately affect younger males.
• The findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and preventative measures, especially during peak seasons.
• Further research into snake species and bite-specific outcomes is warranted.