Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.

A prospective study was designed to define epidemiologic and clinical features of krait bites to improve diagnosis, management, and prevention. Among 762 cases of venomous snake bites admitted to 10 Sri Lankan hospitals in which the snake responsible was brought and identified, 88 (11.5%) were cause...

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Main Authors: Ariaratnam, C, Sheriff, M, Theakston, R, Warrell, D
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2008
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author Ariaratnam, C
Sheriff, M
Theakston, R
Warrell, D
author_facet Ariaratnam, C
Sheriff, M
Theakston, R
Warrell, D
author_sort Ariaratnam, C
collection OXFORD
description A prospective study was designed to define epidemiologic and clinical features of krait bites to improve diagnosis, management, and prevention. Among 762 cases of venomous snake bites admitted to 10 Sri Lankan hospitals in which the snake responsible was brought and identified, 88 (11.5%) were caused by common kraits (Bungarus caeruleus). Bites were: most frequent in September through November. Distinctive features of B. caeruleus bites (compared with bites by other species in parentheses) were bitten while sleeping on the ground, 100% (1%); indoors, 100% (49%); between 2300 and 0500 hours, 100% (3%). Only 13% of krait victims were bitten on their lower limbs (82%), only 9% had local swelling (in all cases mild) at the site of the bite (93%), 64% developed respiratory paralysis (2%), and 91% experienced (often severe) abdominal pain (10%). Case fatality was 6% (3%). This distinctive pattern of epidemiology and symptoms will aid clinical recognition (syndromic diagnosis) and prevention of krait bite envenoming.
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spelling oxford-uuid:cd78d18b-fbe5-45f3-b747-d6b4b7967c302022-03-27T07:28:57ZDistinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:cd78d18b-fbe5-45f3-b747-d6b4b7967c30EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Ariaratnam, CSheriff, MTheakston, RWarrell, DA prospective study was designed to define epidemiologic and clinical features of krait bites to improve diagnosis, management, and prevention. Among 762 cases of venomous snake bites admitted to 10 Sri Lankan hospitals in which the snake responsible was brought and identified, 88 (11.5%) were caused by common kraits (Bungarus caeruleus). Bites were: most frequent in September through November. Distinctive features of B. caeruleus bites (compared with bites by other species in parentheses) were bitten while sleeping on the ground, 100% (1%); indoors, 100% (49%); between 2300 and 0500 hours, 100% (3%). Only 13% of krait victims were bitten on their lower limbs (82%), only 9% had local swelling (in all cases mild) at the site of the bite (93%), 64% developed respiratory paralysis (2%), and 91% experienced (often severe) abdominal pain (10%). Case fatality was 6% (3%). This distinctive pattern of epidemiology and symptoms will aid clinical recognition (syndromic diagnosis) and prevention of krait bite envenoming.
spellingShingle Ariaratnam, C
Sheriff, M
Theakston, R
Warrell, D
Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title_full Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title_fullStr Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title_full_unstemmed Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title_short Distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) bites in Sri Lanka.
title_sort distinctive epidemiologic and clinical features of common krait bungarus caeruleus bites in sri lanka
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