Clinical-epidemiological profile of snakebites occurred on the island of Colares, Pará, eastern Amazonia

Abstract

To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of snakebites occurred on the island of Colares, Pará, Brazil. The study consisted of a cross-epidemiological research based on the analysis of all cases of poisoning by venomous snakes treated at City Hospital and served on the National System Notifications and Disability (SINAN) and conducted to the Ministry of Health between January 2007 and December 2011. Data obtained from the notification records were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel (2007 version). Ninety-four cases of snakebites were reported to SINAN and the highest frequency occurred in the first half of each year, a period in which most precipitation occurs in the region. Most accidents occurred in rural areas (85.11%), while performing manual labor (55.32%), with higher incidence in men (73.40%), with predominance of accidents caused by snakes of the genus (Bothrops) (69.62%). Failures were identified in the protocol of serum therapy, as it was used in two cases in which the snakes were not venomous and not used in two other cases involving poisonous snakes. Regarding clinical aspects, the foot was the most affected region (51.06%) while pain, edema and vagal manifestations were the most frequent signs. These results demonstrate that the municipality of necklaces follows the profile of snakebites other Amazonian rural areas. Greater attention is needed from health professionals when filling in the notification forms and when following therapeutic protocols of snakebite victims.