Abstract
This report is an investigation of the epidemiological features of injuries with venomous animals in the Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil, from 2007 to 2014. A total of 30,429 cases were analyzed. Cases were distributed over all months of the period studied and occurred mainly in urban areas. Scorpion stings showed the highest percentage of cases, but the chance of death among snakebites was higher. Envenomation predominated in females with age between 20 and 49 years old. Children and elderly showed a higher chance of death. Most victims were bitten on the extremities of the limbs and received medical care within 0-1 hour after being bitten. The main local and systemic symptoms reported were pain and headache, respectively. Cases were mostly classified as mild and progressed to cure. Few victims show local and systemic complications. The high number of accidents with venomous animals shows that Rio Grande do Norte may be an important risk area for such injuries. Furthermore, this study provides data for the development of health actions to promote control and prevention of these injuries in this region.
Highlights
Accidents with venomous animals are a public health problem in Brazil due to high frequency in all regions of the country and potential severity[1,2]
Injury with venomous animals are mandatorily recorded by the National System of Notifiable Diseases [Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN)]18 based on medical records used in the investigation and follow-up of cases of injury with venomous animals
The current study shows that there was an increase of venomous animal injury cases in Rio
Summary
Accidents with venomous animals are a public health problem in Brazil due to high frequency in all regions of the country and potential severity[1,2]. Among the venomous animals responsible for most envenomation of medical importance there are snakes, scorpions, spiders, bees and caterpillars[1]. Scorpions are responsible for the largest number of accidents in Brazil[3]. They occur predominantly in urban areas[7], with a higher risk of death in children[8]. Bothrops accidents are the most frequent in all regions of Brazil, but Crotalus cases show the highest lethality rate[10]. Envenomation by spiders of the genus Loxosceles is characterized as the most severe and frequent, especially in the southern and southeastern regions of the country[1,3]
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