Serial evaluation of local changes in snakebite envenomation using infrared thermal imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Dermatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Lack of objective tools to assess local changes after snakebite envenomation.
• Need for reliable methods to monitor disease progression in affected patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the progression of local changes in snakebite envenomation patients using serial infrared thermal imaging.
• To evaluate infrared imaging as an objective tool for assessing snakebite-induced local effects.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of snakebite envenomation patients.
• Serial clinical assessments and infrared imaging of local changes.
• Infrared image interpretation by a masked investigator.

Main Results:

• 39 patients with snakebite envenomation were studied.
• Median time to stability of local changes was 24.6h (clinical) and 28.0h (infrared).
• Good correlation between clinical and infrared assessments (Cohen's κ=0.59, Spearman's ρ=0.713), though thermal changes sometimes exceeded clinical swelling.

Conclusions:

• Infrared imaging provides an objective method for documenting local changes in snakebite envenomation.
• Thermal imaging can complement clinical assessment in managing snakebite injuries.