Evaluation of snakebites and their treatment in the Bonginda/Bikoro DR Congo

Abstract

The study attempts to elucidate the problem of the management of snakebites and envenomations in rural areas. It aims to assess the management of snakebite cases in the Bonginda group in Equateur, DR Congo. A survey was conducted during the period from January 2019 to December 2020. In addition, doctors from the Bonginda Health Zone, traditional healers and a few resource persons such as herbalists and people who have been treated for cases bites were contacted. The nature of the retrospective study required the administration of a questionnaire to those involved in the investigation. These include traditional healers and doctors from the health structures of the General Reference Hospital of Bikoro, Ntende, Moheli, Iyembemoke and Momboyo. The healing score recorded by traditional healers in the event of envenomation is estimated at 93.94% against 23.94% in medical structures. The low score recorded in the latter would be justified by the lack of an appropriate protocol for the specific cases thus diagnosed on the basis of modern equipment. Thus, the care provided by traditional healers seems more effective.