Throughout the world there are about 3,000 poisonous snakes, of which only 10 percent are dangerous to human. In Korea, there are 4 families, 8 genuses and 14 species which include Agkistrodon blomhoffi brevicaudus, Agkistrodon caliginosus and
Agkistrodon saxatalis. The World health Organization estimates that as many as 300,000 snakebites occur throughtout the world each year, causing perhaps 30,000 to 40,000 deaths. Because Korea is lots of mountains, fields and farmers, there are
high
risk
of snakebits.
We analized 189 victims of snakebite who received treatment at Chonnam University Hospital for 10 years from 1984 to 1993, The results were as follows: The seasonal distribution was uniform from May to September, but more frequent in
August(22.2%).
The
male and female ratio was 1.3 : 1 and the incidence of peak age was 7th decade I 42 cases(22.25).
The most frequent place the accident happened was the field(68.8%) and the predilection sites of the body were exposed regions, such as foot in 64 cases (33.9%) and finger in 63 cases (33.3%). There wasn't application of atourniquet in 145
cases(76.7%).
The duration of hospitalization was within 12 hours in 147 cases(77.8%) and within 24 hours in 80 cases (42.3%). It was observed that the victims had local edema in 138 cases (730.0%) and pain in 42 cases(22.%) as local signs and symptoms, and
hematuria
in 38 cases(20.1%) and visual disturbance in 16 cases(8.5%) as general signs and symptoms. In laboratory findings, the hemoglobin level was over 11gm% in 126 cases(66.7%) and WBC count was more than 10,000 per cu.mm. in 115 cases (60.8%).
Hematuria was
developed in 38 cases(20.15), proteinuria in 53 cases(28.0%) and glucosuria in 44 cases(23.3%). Polyvalent antivenin to neutralize the venom was administrated in 172 cases(91.0%) and corticosteroid in 20 cases(10.6%). Surgical treatment such as
incision
and irrigation was performed in 115 cases(60.9). Phlegmon was the most common complication of snakebites in 15 cases(7.9%). Acute renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy occured in an few patients. The overall mortality rate was
1.1%(2
cases) and the causes of death were acute renal failure and pulmonary edema.
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