EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SNAKEBITES IN MOROCCO

Arfaoui A (1), Hmimou R (1), Ouammi L (2), Soulaymani A (1), Mokhtari A (1), Chafiq F (2), Soulaymani-Bencheikh R (2, 3)

(1) Laboratory of Genetics and Biometrics, Kenitra Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco; (2) Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco, Rabat Institute, Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco.

ABSTRACT: The present work aims to find out the epidemiological profile of snakebites in Morocco through a retrospective study of 1,423 snakebite cases that occurred during the period between 1992 and 2007. Data were obtained from medical charts of intoxication of the Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco.

Results revealed that 86% of the snakebites had occurred in rural areas and that males were significantly more affected than females with a sex ratio of 1.15. Furthermore, 35% of the bites happened during the summer with a peak of 215 cases in June (15.1%). We also found that 67.3% of the patients were bitten during daytime. The age group that comprised the more active persons, from 20 to 44 years old, was the most affected by snakebites (551 cases). In terms of evolution, patients who were 60 years old or more (8.89%) as well as those who were less than 10 years (7.50%) presented higher mortality.

According to clinical severity levels, data revealed a predominance of the level 2 that represented 70% of the cases (430). Deaths had occurred only in patients with levels 3 and 4. Furthermore, level 4 patients presented 100% of mortality whereas level 3 registered 10.7%. The distribution of snakebites according to administrative regions in Morocco showed a predominance of Souss-Massa-Daraa region either in terms of frequency (32%) or in terms of mortality (72.1%).

Our study clearly displayed the severity and extent of the snakebite problem in the country. Thus, revealing that public health authorities should give more attention to this serious situation.

KEY WORDS: snakebites, epidemiology, mortality, Morocco.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

AMINE ARFAOUI, Laboratory of Genetics and Biometrics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco. Phone: +21262374044. Fax: +21237329433. Email: amine_arfaoui@yahoo.fr.