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. 2023 Oct 6:56:e02242023.
doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0224-2023. eCollection 2023.

Snakebites in Northeastern Brazil: accessing clinical-epidemiological profile as a strategy to deal with Neglected Tropical Diseases

Sâmia Caroline Melo Araújo  1 , Joseneide Teixeira Câmara  1 , Thaís B Guedes  2   3
Affiliations

Snakebites in Northeastern Brazil: accessing clinical-epidemiological profile as a strategy to deal with Neglected Tropical Diseases

Sâmia Caroline Melo Araújo et al. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. .

Abstract

Background: Brazil ranks first in the number of snakebites in South America. A detailed analysis of these cases is required to improve the public health planning. In this study, we retrospectively examined the clinical and epidemiological profiles of snakebites in Maranhão between January 2009 and December 2019.

Methods: Data were obtained from the compulsory notification forms provided by the Health Department of Maranhão.

Results: A total of 17,658 cases were recorded during the study period. Most of the bites were from snakes belonging to the genus Bothrops. Medical care was mostly within three hours after the bite. Most cases were classified as mild and most victims recovered; however, 139 deaths were recorded. Most bites occurred among people aged 20-39 years, mainly among rural workers. The most frequent local clinical manifestations were pain, edema, and ecchymosis. The most common systemic clinical manifestations include neuroparalysis, vagal syndrome, and myolysis. Most snakebites occurred between January and March. The municipalities with the highest number of notifications were Buriticupu (936 cases), Arame (705 cases), and Grajaú (627 cases).

Conclusions: The clinical profile of snakebites in Maranhão is similar to that observed in other states of Northeast Brazil. However, we found that some systemic manifestations are not compatible with the etiology of snakebites, which leads us to believe that the problem could be the lack of knowledge of the health professionals at the site of envenomation, who may not be ready for attendance, and an important lack of health centers with snake antivenom to treat snakebites.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare do not have conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1:
FIGURE 1:. Clinical profile of snakebites from venomous snakes of medical importance in Maranhão, mid-northern region of Brazil, with data from 2009 to 2019. (A) Number of snakebites per month and year. (B) Number of snakebites for municipalities limits. (C) Incidence rates of snakebites per 100,000 inhabitants for municipalities limits.
FIGURE 2:
FIGURE 2:. Epidemiological profile of snakebites from venomous snakes of medical importance in Maranhão, mid-northern region of Brazil, with data from 2009 to 2019. (A) Zone where the snakebite victims lived. (B) Zone where the victims were bitten. (C) Age group of snakebite victims. (D) Self-defined ethnicities of snakebite victims. (E) Sex of snakebite victims. (F) Genus of the snake that bit the victims. (G) The anatomical regions frequently bitten by snakes. (H) Time elapsed between the snakebite and the victims receiving medical care.
FIGURE 3:
FIGURE 3:. Epidemiological profile of snakebites from venomous snakes of medical importance in Maranhão, mid-northern region of Brazil, with data from 2009 to 2019. (A) Classification of symptoms of the snakebite victims. (B) Evolution of the case of snakebite victims. Main local clinical manifestations in the victims: (C) Pain; (D) Edema; (E) Ecchymosis or Bruise. Main systemic manifestations in the victims: (F) Neuroparalysis; (G) Myolythic; (H) Renal failure.
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