Abstract:
Background: Snakebite is a preventable public health problem often faced by rural population in developing tropical and subtropical countries, it’s commonly seen during heavy rainfall and humid climate. Snakebite is acute relatively life threatening and time limited medical emergency particularly for women and children. Highly effective treatment exists. Most deaths and serious consequences from snake bites are entirely preventable by making safe and effective antivenoms more widely available and accessible. The data for prevalence of snakebite is limited in Africa general and in Ethiopia particularly.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of snakebite, outcomes, major clinical complication and associated factors of snakebite in Denan health centre, September 2015 to August 2020.
Methods: A five year institution based cross-sectional study between September2015- August2020 including all patients registered in Denan health center for snakebite. A structured, questionnaire was used to collect the data from the patient chart. The data was entered into SPSS window version 22 for analysis. The direction & strength of association was measured by OR with 95% CI. Bi-variate analysis will be done by using binary logistic regression and multivariable analysis was done by using binary logistic regression for confounding factors.
Result: snakebite patients predominately younger than 25yrs (72.1%). Largely Male (60%). Almost rural population affected (73%). Lower mostly involved (44.2%) followed by upper (30.2%) extremity. Venomous snakebite (81.4%). The most common clinical manifestations were pain only (24.4%), swelling (31.4%), and soft tissue necrosis (29.1%) around the area of snakebite. Out of 430 snakebite patients finally analyzed only 11.7% had clinical features of systemic envenomation. Traditional treatment (37.3%). Mortality was 20 (4.7%) all are children less than 10yrs, Bleeding (2.3%), and amputation (2.3%). About10 (50%) of snakebite mortality was due to anaphylaxis and 5(25%) were due to neurologic complications. In The remaining 5cases (25%) immediate case of mortality was not documented.
Conclusion: Snakebite is public health problem in the geographic area of Denan were this research was conducted.
Recommendation: engagement of Public health education about snakebite prevention technics particularly during rainy seasons and establishment appropriate case management protocol is recommended
