Snakebite in western Marajó (Pará, Brazil): trends and epidemiological profile from 2007 to 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0367.2026v47n1p37Keywords:
Venomous snakes, Snake envenoming, Amazonian ecosystem, Public health, EpidemiologyAbstract
Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile of snakebite accidents in the municipality of Breves, located on Marajó Island (Pará, Brazil), from 2007 to 2022. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted using data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Descriptive analyses were performed to identify patterns and frequencies of the analyzed variables, including victims’ sex and age group, snake genus involved, time elapsed between the accident and hospital care, case severity classification, and clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 3,113 cases were recorded during the study period, with the highest incidence occurring between January and March. Most victims were males aged 20–39 years, and 81% of the accidents involved snakes of the genus Bothrops. Approximately 27.6% of patients received medical care within 3 to 6 hours after the bite, while 20.7% were treated between 6 and 12 hours. Cases were classified as mild (40.3%), moderate (48.0%), and severe (10.6%), with a cure rate exceeding 94%. Fifteen deaths directly attributable to snakebite envenoming were recorded (0.5%). Conclusion: The municipality exhibited a high incidence of snakebite accidents, highlighting the need to strengthen health education initiatives, particularly in more vulnerable areas. Effective prevention depends on the integration of health education, adequate infrastructure, and the valorization of biodiversity.
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