A STUDY OF DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND CLINICAL OUTCOME OF SNAKE BITE IN CHILDREN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, IN SOUTH INDIA

Introduction:Snakebite is one of the neglected tropical diseases that the World Health Organization aimed to eradicate [1]. However, it has been excluded from WHO report of 2010 and 2013 on neglected tropical diseases. Currently, snakebite has been included along with other neglected non-tropical diseases such as strongyloidosis, scabies, mycetoma,etc [2,3].Unlike the other public health problems,which have received a lot of attention from both the policy makers and health care providers, snake bite has been grossly neglected by many. Hence, the current study was conducted with the objective of assessing the clinical and epidemiological profile of snake bite victims admitted to a tertiary care hospital Objective: To assess the clinical outcome and demographic profile of snake bite in children. Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of 30 patients admitted to Vanivilas Children's Hospital,attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute,Bengaluru,with a history of snake bites during the study period between January 2023 & August 2023. Clinical data of these children were analysed for demographic details, type and site of the bite, kind of snake, clinical presentations, requirements for ASV, complications, duration of hospital stay and outcomes were analysed. Results: Males had higher incidence of snake bites (n=17, 56.7%). Higher incidence was noted in the age group of above 10 years old children with 19 patients (63.3%). Lower extremity was the most common site of bite with 25 patients (83.3%).Most common clinical features at presentation were local edema and pain found in 12 patients (40%). Cellulitis (n=10, 30%) was found to be the most common complication. 26 patients (86.7%) were discharged with no residual complications and one death was noted in the patient with uncontrolled,frank systemic bleeding at presentation.Conclusions:Snake bite still remains a major public health problem in this part of the world.Awareness has to be raised regarding the presentation of snake bites through community health programmes.