ABSTRACT
A total of 31 (excluding one cobra bite) Russell's viper bite cases were available for study during 1995-96. The median age of the victim is 24 yr (11-68 yr) and the interval between bite and admission is 4.45 h (2.30-12.oo h). Eighty per cent of the bites occurred in lower limb and 65 per cent were bitten while at work in the field. Length of the snakes varies from 23-110 cm (median 26 cm). Thirteen per cent of the bites are local, 29 per cent no envenoming and 58 per cent systemic of which 67 per cent developed spontaneous systemic bleeding. Nineteen per cent died of renal failure and shock. venom levels of local and systemic are 10-40 ng/ml and 20-199 ng/ml respectively. Clot restoration time in 59 per cent of the cases takes more than 6 h indicating variable efficacy of antivenom in neutralising procoagulant activity of local venom. Albuminuria was detected in 56 per cent. Local blackening (45 per cent) is probably the result of ischaemia and local venom effect.