Profile of snakebite accidents in the north of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2009-09, Vol.42 (5), p.561
• Main Authors: Lima, Juliano Santos, Martelli Júnior, Hercílio, Martelli, Daniella Reis Barbosa, Silva, Marília Sarmento da, Carvalho, Sílvio Fernando Guimarães de, Canela, João dos Reis, Bonan, Paulo Rogério Ferreti
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Female; Health care; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Snake bites; Snake Bites - classification; Snake Bites - epidemiology; Urban areas; Urbanization; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822009000500015

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of snakebite accidents in the healthcare macroregion of the north of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Database information on snakebite accidents covering the period from January 2002 to December 2006 was analyzed. It was found that 10,553 cases were notified, and that the samples were noticeably larger in the months of hot and rainy weather, in urban areas (54.1%), at ages less then 20 years (39.7%) and among men and students (53.1% and 29.1%) respectively. The lower limbs (feet, toes, legs and thighs) were the locations most affected (35.9%). The most prevalent snakes were in the genus Bothrops (82.9%) and most of the accidents were mild (66.2%). In this study, it was seen that the seasonality, urbanization and undernotification of the species involved in these accidents had a notable impact, along with seeking walk-in care. It is expected that the new data obtained from this sample may serve as the substrate for planning and implementing measures for healthcare surveillance.