Eric K.I Omogbai , Zuleikha A.M Nworgu, Micheal A Imhafidon, Anwakang A Ikpeme, David O Ojo, Charles N Nwako

For correspondence:-  Eric Omogbai   Email: omog@uniben.edu

Published: 24 June 2002

Citation: Omogbai EK, Nworgu ZA, Imhafidon MA, Ikpeme AA, Ojo DO, Nwako CN. Snake bites in Nigeria: A study of the prevalence and treatment in Benin City. Trop J Pharm Res 2002; 1(1):39-44 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v1i1.6

© 2002 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose:  Although snake bites occur frequently in Benin City, the prevalence has not been documented. This study was therefore done to determine the prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and the orthodox treatment of victims.
Methods:  Thestudy was retrospective and data on victims of snake bite covering a period of twentyyears were obtained from the records as contained in the individual patients’ case files available at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital, Benin City.
Results: Males were twice more often bitten than females, and teenagers and youths in their early  twenties constituted  the peak  age  range of  victims.  Most  victims  (59.5%)  were bitten  in  the bush  or  farm.  The  limbs  were  the  commonest  sites  of  bite  with  the  feet  (73.5%)  and arms (20.9%)  more frequently bitten;  both the upper  and lower right  limbs were also more frequently bitten than the corresponding left limbs. All patients who showed symptoms of envenomation (68.3%) received polyvalent  antivenom, 67.4% received antibiotics while over 90% of patients received antitetanus prophylaxis. Some of the patients (61.5 %) were treated with analgesics, while  17.2%  and 82.3%  received diazepam  and  intravenous  fluids,  respectively.  Although  there was  a high degree of  morbidity  as shown by  the  long  stay  of  many  patients  in  the hospital  (mean duration of  stay by patients in hospital is 5.7±5.1 days;  range <1-23 days), mortality was not recorded.
Conclusion:  It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of snake bites with high morbidity especially among the very active youthful segment of the Benin City population.