Trend of Snakebite Cases and their Management at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi During 2022

Abstract

Snakebite is a neglected public health problem of tropical and subtropical regions globally. Millions of cases are reported annually worldwide and about half of them are bitten by poisonous snakes. Objectives: To determine trend of snakebite cases and their management at Holy Family Hospital during 2022. Methods: A retrospective hospital-record based study was done to identify the trend of snakebite cases reported at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi during 2022. The data was gathered from hospital administrators pertaining to age, gender, residential address, types of snakebite and treatment given. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 25.0 and MS Excel 2016. Descriptive statistics were computed. Independent sample t-test was applied to measure statistically significant gender-based difference in mean age of the snake bite victims. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of the 90 snakebite cases, 64.1% were males. Mean age of the victims was 34.7 ±14.8 years. Difference in mean age of male and female victims was statistically insignificant (P > 0.67). Majority (33%) was resident of Rawalpindi, followed by 22% and 12.3% from Attock and Azad Jammu & Kashmir respectively. Peak of the cases was during July and August. As most (91.1%) of them were bitten by vasculotoxic snakes, so out of 1,117 anti-snake venom ampules about 93.1% were administered to those cases. None of the cases succumbed to snakebite. Conclusions: Snakebite has frequently been reported among residents of Rawalpindi and its neighbouring areas during summer season. The victims were promptly treated for their survival.