TY - JOUR
T1 - Snake bite and antivenom complications in belo horizonte, Brazil
AU - Caiaffa, Waleska Teixeira
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Antunes, Carlos Mauricio Figueiredo
AU - De Oliveira, Helen Ramos
AU - Diniz, Carlos Ribeiro
N1 - Funding Information:
Financials up ort was providedb y the Stateo f Minas Gerais ResearchF oun8 a. uon (FAPEMIG), the Sciencea nd Technology for DevelopmenPt rogrammeo f the EuropeanC ommunity( con-tractn umberT S2.0045-UK), and the Ministry of Health, Gov-ernmento f Brazil.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1994/1
Y1 - 1994/1
N2 - Factors associated with clinical complications of snake bite and antivenom therapy were studied in 310 hospital patients admitted with snake bite over 6 years to a tertiary referral hospital in Belo Horizonte, southeast Brazil. Overall, 17·4% had early clinical complications including tissue loss associated with abscess and necrosis, acute renal failure, shock, acute lung oedema and intracranial haemorrhage. 3% had permanent sequelae, caused by muscle contractures and amputations, chronic renal failure, or death. Early complications were associated with the following: Age under 9 years(P=0·04), residence in a rural area(P=0·04), and a delay of more than 8 h in seeking clinical care(P < 0·01). Antivenom was administered to 98·1% of patients; 13·8% presented with anaphylaxis and 11·8% with pyrexia. Individuals from a rural area had a higher occurrence of anaphylactic reactions(P=0·03). Neither anaphylaxis nor pyrexia was linked with antivenom type and dosage. This study suggested that antivenom might be associated with a reduced risk of serious injuries related to snake bite, especially when administered within the first 8 h. Complications appeared to be a far greater risk than adverse reactions to the antivenom.
AB - Factors associated with clinical complications of snake bite and antivenom therapy were studied in 310 hospital patients admitted with snake bite over 6 years to a tertiary referral hospital in Belo Horizonte, southeast Brazil. Overall, 17·4% had early clinical complications including tissue loss associated with abscess and necrosis, acute renal failure, shock, acute lung oedema and intracranial haemorrhage. 3% had permanent sequelae, caused by muscle contractures and amputations, chronic renal failure, or death. Early complications were associated with the following: Age under 9 years(P=0·04), residence in a rural area(P=0·04), and a delay of more than 8 h in seeking clinical care(P < 0·01). Antivenom was administered to 98·1% of patients; 13·8% presented with anaphylaxis and 11·8% with pyrexia. Individuals from a rural area had a higher occurrence of anaphylactic reactions(P=0·03). Neither anaphylaxis nor pyrexia was linked with antivenom type and dosage. This study suggested that antivenom might be associated with a reduced risk of serious injuries related to snake bite, especially when administered within the first 8 h. Complications appeared to be a far greater risk than adverse reactions to the antivenom.
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U2 - 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90511-8
DO - 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90511-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 8154013
AN - SCOPUS:0027955810
VL - 88
SP - 81
EP - 85
JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
SN - 0035-9203
IS - 1
ER -