Abstract
BackgroundIn Cameroon, since the first epidemiological week held in 2015, snakebites have been registered among Potential Epidemic Diseases (PED). In the Centre Region, the most densely populated of the country, weekly reports of snakebites are generated at health districts level for monthly data updates.MethodsTo contribute to the better management of snakebite cases, an observational study was conducted to assess the snakebite reporting rate in the Centre Region of Cameroon. The results of this retro-prospective survey were confronted to those of the weekly epidemiological surveillance system, recorded in the PED regional data base.ResultsThe incidence of bites was relatively high (36.6 bites per 100,000 inhabitants), as well as the general attack rate (about 49 envenomations per 100 victims). The lethality recorded was 2.5% and the mortality was about 1 death per 100,000 inhabitants a year. The sex ratio was largely female biased (61.6%). The bites occurred mostly during the rainy season (73.0%). Bitten victims were mainly farmers (47.4%), and agriculture was the main risk factor. The comparative analysis of the data suggested a high non-reporting rate of snakebite cases (67.8%).ConclusionSnakebite is an endemic condition in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Because of the high rate of non-reporting of cases, the collection of information from the registers of the health facilities only appears not enough to assess the real importance of envenomation in this Region.
Highlights
In Cameroon, since the first epidemiological week held in 2015, snakebites have been registered among Potential Epidemic Diseases (PED)
After its integration into the large group of envenomations, snakebites have been included since June 2017 in the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) portfolio of the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]
Sociodemographic characteristics of snakebite victims A total of 516 snakebite victims were identified during the study period, with a 2.5% lethality rate
Summary
In Cameroon, since the first epidemiological week held in 2015, snakebites have been registered among Potential Epidemic Diseases (PED). Cameroon is among the five African countries teeming with so-called “snake pockets”, characterized by snakebite incidence rates greater than 400 cases/100,000 inhabitants/year [3]. These figures are largely below the estimates of the International Society of Toxinology (IST), ranged between 2255 and 6206 annual cases of bites with a lethal charge around 33.8 to 265.9 cases in Cameroon [7]. This can be due to the difficulty in accessing health units in certain areas and the frequent use of other therapeutic routes. In 2011 for example, only 10% of the victims of snakebites had been able to benefit from the recommended health care due to non or poorly sensitized medical staff and the lack of anti-venoms in Cameroon [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
