A Clinical Profile of Neurotoxic Snakebite in Pediatric Population of Jammu Region.

ABSTRACT

Snake bite is a common neglected emergency in children. Due to lack of adequate epidemiological data its incidence is underestimated. This study analyses the clinical profile of neurotoxic snake bites in children. Retrospective analysis of 37 children with features of neurotoxicity with or without history of snake bite was done. 37 cases of neurotoxic envenomation had a median age of 8 years. 30 were males. Majority of bites occurred during night hours and in upper limbs. Among the 17 who were bitten during night 12 were sleeping on floor. The most common systemic presentation was ptosis (94.59%) followed by difficulty in breathing (78.37%), pain abdomen (64.86%) blurring of vision and diplopia (54.04%), decreasing level of consciousness (45.94%) and vomiting (29.72%). 13 patients (35.13%) with clinical features of neurotoxic envenoming but without any history of snake bite were brought with history of early morning sudden onset of abdominal pain. All patients were given Anti Snake Venom (ASV) with medial dose of 600 units. Twenty patients received ventilator support. Ten (27%) patients died all of whom received ASV after a delay of at least 5 hours.