Premonitory signs and symptoms of envenoming by common krait (Bungarus caeruleus).

Between January 2005 and August 2011 141 victims of krait bite poisoning were admitted to the general hospital at Mahad. Clinical signs and symptoms preceding the development of neuroparalysis were analyzed. Fifty-six percent of patients were male. A total of 140 victims reported between midnight and 05:00. Patients awoke in the night due to abdominal colic (85%) and chest pain (72%). Patients gave a history of vomiting (42%), sweating (17%) and excessive salivation (35%). On arrival at hospital, 78% cases had dysphasia with pooling of saliva, 89% had heaviness in both eyelids and ptosis; 12.5% of patients died on the way to hospital while 13.47% died during treatment. In total, 74.46% recovered, and of these 48% needed artificial ventilation. The sudden onset of abdominal colic and vomiting in a person sleeping on the floor without a mosquito net led to neuroparalysis due to krait bite poisoning.

Profile of snakebite envenoming in rural Maharashtra, India.

One hundred and eighty two cases of snakebite were admitted during twelve months at five hospitals situated in five different districts of rural Maharashtra. Out of these 55 (30.2%), 38 (20.8%), 48 (26.3%), 41 (22.5%) cases were bitten by Echis carinatus (Eh), Russell's viper (Rv), krait (Kr) and Cobra (Cr) respectively. Clinical confirmation of snakebite with envenoming was by identification of the dead snake brought by victims and by clinical signs and symptoms such as absent or minimum local signs, pain in abdomen preceding to neuroparalysis in the victim slept on floor bed, suggestive of krait bite. Rapid development swelling at the site of fangs marks with ecchymosis with rapid development of neuro-paralysis, respiratory depression suggestive of cobra bite. Severe local edema with fangs marks, active bleeding from fangs marks with rapid development of systemic bleeding with positive 20minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) suggestive of Russells's viper bite. Slow development mild local oedema with fangs marks, delayed development of local ecchymosis and systemic bleeding (20WBCT) in a case of Eh bite. Irrespective of similar clinical effects of particular type of snake, the total dose of anti-snake venom (ASV) administered is differs. In these five centers physicians are practicing and treating the snake bite cases for more than five year and know how to suspect and diagnose clinically the envenoming by poisonous snake. Early detection of clinical signs and symptoms and rapid administration of adequate initial dose of ASV on arrival, endotracheal intubation and timely intervention with either manual ventilation by amboo bag or mechanical ventilation in nuroparalysis and early detection of renal failure and its rapid treatment helped to reduce the morbidity and mortality in a rural setting.

Utility of scorpion antivenin vs prazosin in the management of severe Mesobuthus tamulus (Indian red scorpion) envenoming at rural setting.

BACKGROUND: Scorpion antivenom (SAV) is specific antidote to scorpion venom..SAV did not prevent the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (autonomic storm), hence its utility in the management for severe scorpion envenomingmay be limited. Since 1983 the advent of prazosin revolutionized the management of severe scorpion sting. Since 2002 SAV against Indian red scorpion (IRS) for the treatment of scorpion sting cases is available at primary health centers. We compared the effects of SAV Vs Prazosin (PRA) in the management of severe scorpion stung cases at rural setting in a non-randomised open label manner. METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2004, 53 patients accidentally stung by scorpion were admitted in hospital at Mahad. Of these 25 patients received intravenous SAV at primary health centers and were referred to Mahad for further management. 28 patients directly reported to Mahad were treated with oral prazosin (PRA). Time interval between sting and hospitalization, the total dose of SAV and PRA administered was noted. Clinical manifestations were noted in a standard protocol. Details of SAV patients were noted from referred letters or in case of a doubt, details were obtained by direct communication with the medical officer who first saw and examined the case. All 53 cases were evaluated clinically for improvement, deterioration or fatal outcome. RESULTS: SAV Vs PRA ( 25 Vs 28) cases reported to hospital within 11/2 -3 (1.4) Vs 1/2-4 (1.3) hours after stung. On arrival 21 (84%) Vs 26 (92%) had hypertension, 2 (8%) Vs 1 (3.5%) had hypotension, 2 (8%)Vs 1 (3.5%) had normal blood pressure. Heart rate 58-102 (82) Vs 48-120 (80.2) respectively. 9 cases received 20 ml, 1 case 30 ml and remaining 15 cases were given 10 ML of SAV on arrival to PHC, while 28 cases received oral prazosin. 20 (80%) Vs 2 (7.5%) had acute pulmonary edema, 5 (20%) Vs 8 (30%) had persistent raised blood pressure. 4 (16%) Vs 0% died. Recovery time was 11-4 (2.26) Vs 1-2 (1.25) days respectively. CONCLUSION: We found that SAV is no more effective to alleviate or reverse the cardiovascular effects of scorpion venom actions in severe case as against prazosin prevents and cures the cardiovascular manifestations in a severe scorpion envenomation. Therefore role of SAV in severe scorpoin venomation needs to be relooked and prazosin needs to be a standard of care in such cases to overcome the autonomic storm.

Endemic fluorosis in an isolated village in western Maharashtra, India.

We surveyed 76 residents of a small village in Mahad Taluka, where the first index case of dental fluorosis was detected. Thirty-three (43.42%) cases of dental fluorosis were identified. The source of drinking water was a bore well with a fluoride content of 5.37 parts per million.

Novel role of antiplatelet agents (aspirin plus clopidogrel) in an incoagulable blood of a victim of russell's viper snakebite

Snake antivenom is a specific antidote to the venom action, neutralizing the circulating venom. However, it fails to neutralize the venom fixed to target organs such as platelets, renal tubules, etc. Russell's viper venom initiates rapid coagulation in a victim by activating blood platelets, factors V, X, and anticoagulant cofactors. Activation of thrombin, resulting in formation of micro-thrombi, fibrinolysis, and a vicious cascade, sets in. Inhibition of activated platelets by aspirin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and clopidogrel (ADP receptor inhibitor) helps to break this vicious circle induced by Russell's venom and may initiate the natural physiological clotting mechanism. They can be utilized as an adjuvant treatment.(AU)