论文部分内容阅读
Objective:To describe the epidemiology of snake bite in the region and attempt to compare proven Russell’s viper with hump-nosed viper bites.Methods:All snake bite admissions to the Toxicology Unit of Teaching Hospital Peradeniya over three year from2006were included. Results: Of the776 snakebites,665(86%)were unidentified and non-envenomed. Hump-nosed viper and Russell’s viper accounted for55(7%)and40(5%) bites respectively, of them, incriminated snakes were found in36(65%) and19(48%) cases. The cobra bites-5, krait bites-0. The median ages: Russell’s viper bites-41(range 16-66), hump-nosed viper bites-42(range15-75). The gender incidence, time of bite (>58% daytime) were similar. In hump-nosed viper bite; upper limb involved in13(36%), happened at home garden in22(61%), none in paddy fields. In Russell’s viper bite;6(33%) occurred in paddy fields. Dry bites were similar at5%. In hump-nosed viper bite: local effects94%, coagulopathy3%, acute renal failure 3% and one patient died. In Russell’s viper bite; local effects84%, coagulopathy53%, neurotoxicity 21%. Abdominal pain occurred only in Russell’s viper bites10(53%).Conclusions:Overwhelming numbers of unidentified, non-envenomed snakebites are common in the central hills. Some distinctive differences were observed between Russell’s viper and hump-nosed viper bites.