JIST

Abstract

'In developed countries, incidence of snakebites is increasing amongst those who unlawfully keep snakes as pets. Whereas in developing countries, hazardous snakebites occur mainly among rural population active in agricultural work, labourers, herders, professional snake handlers, trekkers, snake charmers and fishermen. Snakebite remains an important cause of accidental death in modern India. The estimated total of 45,900 national snakebite deaths in 2005 constitutes about 5% of all unnatural deaths and nearly 0.5% of all deaths in India.

In our study of 13 cases of autopsies on death due to snakebite, maximum number of cases, i.e., 5 (38.4%) involved the age group 41–50 years, 12 (92.3%) cases happened in rural areas, of which 7 (53.8%) cases occurred while working in the field. Maximum number of incidents of snakebites, i.e., 7 (53.8%) occurred during morning hours between 8 am and 12 pm.