Dg. Lalloo et al., THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SNAKE BITE IN CENTRAL PROVINCE AND NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT, PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 89(2), 1995, pp. 178-182
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Snake bite is an important medical problem in some areas of Papua New
Guinea and appears to be most common in the Central Province and Natio
nal Capital District. The overall incidence for Central Province is 21
5 . 5 per 100 000 population, but Kairuku subprovince has an incidence
of 526 per 100 000, which is amongst the highest in the world. The cl
inical pattern of envenoming also varies within the Province, suggesti
ng that different species of snake may be responsible for bites in dif
ferent areas. Most envenomed patients are bitten during daylight on th
e lower limb and are rarely able to describe the snake. The mortality
rate in Central Province is 7 . 9 per 100 000; most patients die from
ventilatory failure due to severe neurotoxicity. Mortality might be re
duced by increased use of compression bandaging as a first aid measure
, earlier treatment with antivenom and earlier referral to hospital.