Clinical and Epidemiological Study of the Snakebite in Bahia, Brazil(2001)

^1,2Lira-da-Silva, R.M., ¹Silva, S.S., ¹Mise, Y.F. ²Amorim, A.M. and ³Casais-e-Silva, L.L.

1 Depto. Zoologia, IB, UFBA, Bahia ; 2 Faculdade de Tecnologia e Ciências, Bahia 3 Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Bahia

This study describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of accidents caused by Bothrops, Crotalus and Micrurus from Bahia State, Brazil, during 2001 notified and attended at CIAVE. It proposes to identified areas and risk factors for the occurrence of snakebite at Bahia State. The Litoral Norte area presents the major risk (22.48 cases/100.000 hab.) and Itanagra district the major incidence (92.89 case/100.000 hab.). The victims were male, 11-30 years old, rural workers and occurred on rural areas. At Metropolitan Area of Salvador, the major areas risk were Pirajá and Fazenda Grande do Retiro. Bites ocurred more frequently at the rainy period, during the day. The majority of patients were moderate cases by bitten in lower limbs and the use of sorotherapy was as preconized by Ministério da Saúde (7,72 ampoules/patient). There were only few early reactions of sorotherapy (7.4%). The taxa of lethality obtained was 1.35%, higher than the lethality described for Brazil and Northeast.  Some patients were used a constricting bandage (tourniquet) (8.64%) and others not conventional treatments. The clinical manifestations were characterized by local effects such as edema (84.05%), bleeding (7.29%) and equimosis (5.81%). The most frequent systemic effects were headache (4.72%) and myalgia (3.24%).  The alteration of clotting time was observed in some cases. Other important symptoms were renal disturbs: hematuria (2.83%), oliguria (1.62%) and anuria (2.16%). The neurological manifestations palpebral ptosis (3.64%) and sleepness (2.97%). These results demontrate the necessity to quality the health professionals relative to ophidian accidents.

Correspondence to: rejane@ufba.br