Epidemiology of snakebite in the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The epidemiological profile of snakebite in the northwestern region of São Paulo State was based on data available in the department of Vigilância Epidemiológica da Direção Regional de Saúde XXII in São José do Rio Preto. This study proposed to characterize and associate this epidemiological profile with seasonal activities of the snakes. It was registered 479 snakebites from 97 cities of 101 studied, from 1999 to 2004. Snakebites from genus Bothrops accounted for 65.7% of the cases, followed by Crotalus 9.3%, non-venomous snakes 4% and 21% ignored cases. Individuals of the male sex (81%) were the most bitten, with higher incidence on the lower extremity of the body (67.2%). Bites occurred mainly in rural areas (87.1%), during agricultural (56%) or leisure (44%) activities. Period from bite to first aid ranged from 1 to 3 hours (82.8%). 92.7% of the victims were cured, 3.1% of the victims remained with permanent injuries and two died, causing a lethality of 0.4% in the cited region. Most bites happened in the fall in Bothrops and Crotalus and in the spring and summer in non-venomous snakes. The peak of snakebite coincides with the time of higher reproductive activity of the snakes.