Comparison of snakebite in children and adults in Nigeria

Toxicon. 2023 Jun 1:228:107128. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107128. Epub 2023 Apr 15.

Abstract

Snakebite envenoming is a major global public health problem and disproportionately affects children. To study the differences in clinical presentation and outcomes between children and adults, 2922 snakebite patients of whom 30.3% were children were analysed. Most bites (>75%) were in the lower. Features of local envenoming were commoner among children compared to adults (p < 0.05), while systemic envenoming features, mortality and complications were similar, p = 0.356, p = 0.12, and p = 0.16 respectively.

Keywords: Adult; Carpet viper envenoming; Children; Clinical presentation; Echis romani; Nigeria.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antivenins / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Snake Bites* / epidemiology
  • Viper Venoms

Substances

  • Antivenins
  • Viper Venoms