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. 2021 Jul 17:9-10:100074.
doi: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2021.100074. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Chronic health effects and cost of snakebite

Anuradhani Kasturiratne  1 , David G Lalloo  2 , H Janaka de Silva  1
Affiliations

Chronic health effects and cost of snakebite

Anuradhani Kasturiratne et al. Toxicon X. .

Abstract

The burden of disability among survivors and the socio-economic impact of snakebite have not been adequately researched. We reviewed original research articles, case reports and small case series relating to chronic physical, mental and psycho-social disability and economic burden of snakebite. Both physical and psychological health problems seem common in snakebite survivors and can lead to disability and loss of productivity. Chronic physical health effects, musculoskeletal disability being the commonest, can be largely attributed to limited and delayed access to optimal treatment of acute envenoming. The economic burden is considerable, and includes health system costs, out-of-pocket expenditure and opportunity costs, with regional variations. Health systems should be more responsive to needs and circumstances of bite victims, and a more holistic approach should be developed in the treatment of snakebite which incorporates the management of chronic health effects.

Keywords: Chronic health effects; Cost; Physical disability; Psychological effects; Snakebite; Socio-economic burden.

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Conflict of interest statement

All three authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for reviewing the chronic health effects of snakebite.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for reviewing the cost of snakebite.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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