Venomous Snakebites in Children in Southeast Turkey

• Published in: Dicle tıp dergisi 2021-12, Vol.48 (4), p.761-769
• Main Authors: OTO, Arzu, HASPOLAT, Yusuf Kenan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood; Compartment syndrome; Emergency medical care; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Immunization; Intensive care; Laboratories; Mortality; Pain; Patients; Pediatrics; Poisoning; Rural areas; Snake bites; Tetanus
• ISSN: 1300-2945; 1308-9889
• DOI: 10.5798/dicletip.1037630

Objective: Due to the hot climate of the Southeastern Anatolia Region, snake poisoning is common, which causes serious mortality and morbidity. We aimed to present the clinical course, complications and treatment approaches of patients hospitalized with snakebites. Methods: One-hundred and eight pediatric patients treated in the hospital for snakebites, excluding dry bite, were included in the study during a 5-year period. Gender, age, bite site, month, time, type of intervention in the field, symptoms, laboratory findings, complications, tetanus vaccination and antivenom administration were recorded by reviewing patient files. Results: The patients were aged between 10.2+3 (2-15) years and 72 (66.7%) were males. Seventy-three (67.6%) of patients were from rural areas. The bites were mostly from the lower extremity, at between 12-18 o’clock. Grade 1 patients were excluded from the study. At the time of admission, there were 47 (43%) grade 2 and 31 (28%) grade 3 patients. It was observed that with increased grade, higher levels of white blood cell count, glucose level and hospital stay were seen (p