Epidemiological Profile of Fatal Snake bite Cases in a Tertiary Care Centre in South India.

Introduction: Snake bite is considered as an occupational hazard, especially in rural and semi-urban regions where agriculture is the major source of occupation. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 8,660 deaths due to snake bite reported in the year 2015, but this does not reflect the actual data because of the traditional methods and healers opt by the people. Materials and Methods: An autopsy based prospective study was conducted on fatal cases of snakebite reported at the Mortuary of JIPMER, Puducherry over 2 years from January 2017 to December 2018. Epidemiological and demographic data were collected and analysed. Results: The cases studied about 2.7% (38) of the total 1407 medico-legal autopsies conducted during the study period. Most of the cases were male with the age group of 41-60 (36.9%) was affected the most. Most of the incidents occur in the agricultural fields (52.6%) and the people working there become more vulnerable to the bite. There was a marked increase in the number of cases in the summer season (50%). Snakes were unidentified in 25 cases (65.8%) and among the identified cases the most common culprit was Viper amounting to 12 (31.6%) cases. The lower extremity was the most frequently involved site of the bite (81.6%). Majority victims (78.9%) had been applied a tourniquet or native traditional methods before hospitalization. Conclusions: These results urge in educating the rural population about the preventive measures of snakebite and the importance of early hospitalization to save the golden period engulfed by the traditional healers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]