@article{ref1,
title="Snake bite and antivenom complications in Belo Horizonte, Brazil",
journal="Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene",
year="1994",
author="Caiaffa, W. T. and Vlahov, David and Antunes, C. M. and de Oliveira, H. R. and Diniz, C. R.",
volume="88",
number="1",
pages="81-85",
abstract="Factors associated with clinical complications of snake bite and antivenom therapy were studied in 310 hospital patients admitted with snake bite over 6 years to a tertiary referral hospital in Belo Horizonte, southeast Brazil. Overall, 17.4% had early clinical complications including tissue loss associated with abscess and necrosis, acute renal failure, shock, acute lung oedema and intracranial haemorrhage. 3% had permanent sequelae, caused by muscle contractures and amputations, chronic renal failure, or death. Early complications were associated with the following: age under 9 years (P = 0.04), residence in a rural area (P = 0.04), and a delay of more than 8 h in seeking clinical care (P < 0.01). Antivenom was administered to 98.1% of patients; 13.8% presented with anaphylaxis and 11.8% with pyrexia. Individuals from a rural area had a higher occurrence of anaphylactic reactions (P = 0.03). Neither anaphylaxis nor pyrexia was linked with antivenom type and dosage. This study suggested that antivenom might be associated with a reduced risk of serious injuries related to snake bite, especially when administered within the first 8 h. Complications appeared to be a far greater risk than adverse reactions to the antivenom.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0035-9203",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}